Renewed Mind

Peak 8 Exercise Breakthrough - Dr. Mercola

2012-01-27T17:21:00.000-05:00

The science surrounding Peak 8 (Sprint 8)

This is amazing!

As you most likely know, I consider fitness to be one of the major hallmarks of optimal health. I passionately believe that for optimal mental and physical health, you need to exercise regularly. (this article can be found HERE)

Fitness, at any age, plays an important role in:

Promoting your optimal mental and emotional health
Helping you reach and maintain your ideal body weight
Helping to slow your rate of aging
Helping you enjoy more quality sleep at night
Increasing your overall energy levels
Help increase or maintain your flexibility

Research in the area of fitness is exploding as baby boomers and other health conscious individuals seek new, previously unexplored ways to maintain their youth and vigor. The relation of exercise to optimal health supported by research is indeed staggering.

What You Must Know About Exercise…

Many types of exercise demand
lots of time and motivation

There's one caveat when it comes to exercise… Not every type will give you benefits.

Certain forms of exercise will demand more of your precious time – time that you may not have in your busy schedule and unfortunately, some provide very little benefit in return.

Some types will require extreme motivation on your part because you'll have to wait longer to see and feel recognizable benefits.

And I know from my own experience and that of others, when exercise is considered a "burden" and requires a lot of time and motivation, it's more likely to not get done.

Your good intentions invested in your 'new' exercise regimen can disappear in a flash.

Imagine if you could discover an exercise routine that…

You found enjoyable
Took only about sixty minutes a week of your time (and you really only worked 'hard' for 12 of those minutes), and
Provided you with benefits that you could feel almost immediately?

I know most people would respond with a resounding "Yes!"

That's exactly what I intend to show you. Because I am so passionate about the importance of exercise, I'm making it my personal mission to show you that exercise…

...Can be enjoyable
...Doesn't need to take hours of your time
...Can provide you with benefits that can make a profound difference in your health.

What the Latest Science Tells Us…

Around the age of 40, most people begin to lose about 8 percent of their muscle mass every ten years. And most chalk it up to "getting old".

However, researchers have discovered that losing muscle mass as you age doesn't need to happen. In fact, a recent study of 70- and 80-year-old competitive athletes found that they had almost as much thigh muscle mass as athletes in their 40s.

Losing muscle mass is not a 'normal' part of aging. Rather, it's a by-product of inactivity.

When you avoid exercising your muscles for any significant period, your muscle fibers begin to break down or "atrophy".

But here's the good news – researchers have discovered that it is possible to repair and rebuild inactive muscle. And you can start doing it at any age, even if you haven't worked out for a long time. Naturally, the sooner you start exercising, the less damage you'll have to repair.

Research is showing us that a balanced approach to fitness is most beneficial for building muscle and optimal health. Ideally you want to meet all of these goals in your routine:

Build strength and flexibility
Create balance and stability
Promote cardiovascular fitness
Burn fat

Aerobic activities such as cycling or using an elliptical machine, along with core exercises and stretching can provide your body with the balanced routine it needs for optimal fitness.

If you've been working out for a while now and haven't seen the results you desire, something may be missing.

And that "something" may be what traditional exercise can't deliver. However, there's a revolutionary "new" trend in fitness that can…

The Hottest New Trend in Fitness Today…

Many personal trainers claim it's simply "the fastest way to get clients fit".

This hot trend in fitness is indeed making news – and being endorsed by famous celebrities and popular magazines. Some are even touting it as a "way to lose weight in a hurry".

And I've been doing it and promoting it for years…

It's not cardio. Nor is it jogging or long distance running. And it's not hour-long gym workouts or aerobic exercise classes.

Peak Fitness can be done just about
anywhere, including at home

You see, scientists are discovering that it's intensity, not duration of exercise that may be the missing piece of the puzzle in becoming fit and slimming down.

And this type of high-intensity exercise is especially beneficial for aging bodies.

Here's what those who have discovered it love most: it takes a fraction of the time of aerobic or cardio exercise – a huge relief if you're already feeling short on time.

What is this revolutionary fitness trend?

Peak Fitness.

Designed and developed by fitness guru and author Phil Campbell, Peak Fitness, or "Sprint 8" is a 20 minute workout session that includes eight 30 second intervals of intense anaerobic bursts, each followed by 90-seconds of decreased intensity and recovery.

During 'peak exercises', you raise your heart rate beyond your aerobic threshold and push it into your maximum intensity limit.

Appropriate and safe for even seniors, intervals improve fitness by building new capillaries and a
stronger heart and lungs.

Your muscles benefit too, because this type of exercise helps create more mitochondria, the tiny motors that power cells.

What Your Body Really Needs For Maximum Benefits from Exercise

Traditional forms of exercise don't
optimally benefit your body
- or your heart.

According to Phil Campbell, author of "Ready Set Go", receiving maximum cardiovascular benefits requires working all of your muscle fibers and both metabolic processes.

You have three different types of muscle fibers – slow-twitch, fast-twitch, and super-fast-twitch.

And your heart has two different metabolic processes:

The aerobic, which requires oxygen
The anaerobic, which doesn’t require any oxygen

Traditional strength training, aerobic and cardio exercises work primarily the aerobic metabolic process. And they use mostly only slow-twitch muscle fibers.

Typically, traditional forms of exercise don't engage the anaerobic process of your heart nor do they involve the very beneficial fast-twitch muscle fibers.

On the other hand, high-intensity interval training such as Peak Fitness works BOTH your aerobic and anaerobic processes AND employs the crucial faster-twitch fibers, giving you a very thorough heart muscle workout.

To quote Phil Campbell:

"Most exercise programs today are built based upon a very incomplete picture of the physiology of your body.

For example, long slow cardio, "calories in, calories out," would be a perfect way to look at the body if it were all slow-twitch fiber…

But the fast- and super-fast-twitch fibers are essentially 50 percent of your muscle fibers and they don't get recruited until you add a velocity of movement."

Groundbreaking Research Changes AHA Cardio Guidelines

The research is so compelling about the superior benefits of high-intensity anaerobic exercise that the American Heart Association andthe American College of Sports Medicine have redefined their exercise cardio guidelines.

Their new guidelines state that you have a choice – do moderate intensity cardio five days a week for 30 minutes, or do vigorous intensity cardio for 20 minutes, three days a week, which is exactly what Peak Fitness is.

With Peak Fitness, that's a total of 90 minutes a week. And you only need to do this type of exercise 3 times a week instead of 5!

What's more, a recent study actually discovered that marathon runners were more likely to damage their hearts. Researchers found diminished right ventricular heart function, the presence of heart muscle scar tissue, and elevated heart injury blood markers among athletes in the study.

As for Peak Fitness exercises, you don't need or want to do them more than three times a week. Like running marathons, you actually do more harm than good when you overtax your body by exercising too much. Your body must have time to recover between workouts or your health can suffer.

My True Fitness Breakthrough Came
When I Discovered Peak Fitness

After more than 40 years of long-distance running, I found myself mentally exhausted by this type of exercise – I had clearly hit a plateau.

I began to realize that the extensive cardiovascular aerobic-type training I was engaging in might be counterproductive. I learned that high-intensity, burst-type sprints might be a far better alternative to long-distance running.

Then, I met Phil Campbell… and I finally understood the connection to growth hormone and how to actually integrate the program. Phil taught his Sprint 8 program in an easily understandable way and provided an explanation of how to lose weight and gain muscle mass.

I was hooked. I've been doing a very similar type workout that I've named "Peak Fitness" ever since April of 2010. In that switch, I ditched my conventional cardio workout completely. The benefits I am now experiencing have convinced me I couldn't have made a better decision.

I've been doing – and recommending, along with Phil Campbell – Peak Fitness exercises three times a week.

And after interviewing yet another high-intensity interval training expert and emergency room physician, Dr. Doug McGuff, I've learned to appreciate how important it is to listen to your body and allow sufficient recovery time between workouts.

As you age, you do need to adjust and discover through trial and error what works best for you. Your body can guide you onto a path that will provide you with the most efficient and effective benefits when you listen to it.

How Peak Fitness Can Become Your Personal Fountain of Youth
for Longevity, Fitness, and Weight Loss, Too

Peak Fitness workouts can help serve as your personal fountain of youth – at any age.

As you reach your 30s, you enter what's called "somatopause," when your levels of human growth hormone (HGH) begin to drop off rather dramatically.

You can start to pile on body fat – particularly unwanted "middle age spread". You start to lose muscle mass and you may also feel more fatigued.

Not only do declining levels of HGH change how your body burns fat, they also play a critical role in your aging process where you can actually look and feel older.

It has been my experience that nearly everyone over 30 has dramatically low levels of this important hormone because they begin leading increasingly sedentary life styles.

"For a full two hours after your workout your metabolism stays higher and you continue to burn calories faster, as long as you avoid eating or drinking sugar."

The important point to remember is… your super-fast muscle fibers help get you the benefits you desire. And the only way to engage your super-fast muscle fibers is by doing anaerobic or high-intensity exercise like Peak Fitness. Traditional cardio and aerobic exercises do not engage your super-fast fibers!

With Peak Fitness, Get Ready for a Younger- and Leaner-Looking You

Peak Fitness makes a great
anti-aging strategy. What's yours?

Boosting your metabolism and increasing fat loss is just the beginning.

Peak Fitness is also a potent "anti-aging" strategy. You can potentially look and feel younger!

Some of the latest studies have shown how exercise affects telomeres – those shoelace tip-like ends of your chromosomes.

When your telomeres get too short, cells stop dividing and you can experience muscle loss, cognitive decline, and less skin elasticity, among other changes.

In these studies, endurance athletes were shown to have longer telomeres than those who did not exercise. Even moderate activity was shown to benefit telomeres.

No matter your age, starting or adding Peak Fitness exercises into your current workout routine can potentially have an impact on your overall health.

Once you regularly participate in these 20-minute exercises three times a week, you may notice the following benefits as many others have as well:

Decrease in body fat
Improved muscle tone
Increase in energy
Improved athletic speed and performance
Ability to achieve your fitness goals much faster

That's not all… Research repeatedly shows that maintaining your optimal weight and exercising regularly helps maintain healthy glucose and insulin levels. It does this through supporting your insulin receptor sensitivity.

When you normalize your insulin levels, you give your body its best chance for optimum health. And that applies to you even if you start your exercise program overweight or out-of-shape.

It's Never Too Late to Start

Chances are, if you're over 50 and you haven't started a regular exercise program, you may be thinking it's too late to start or to enjoy all the benefits that Peak Fitness can offer.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Research shows that age isn't a factor. Regular exercise, even when started late in life, offers health benefits.

If you're elderly or severely out of shape, I advise you to find a workout buddy, a personal trainer or someone who is experienced to help guide you through your routine, and keep you accountable. You'll have more fun and you'll be more likely to stick with your program.

Start off slowly and gradually increase intensity as you grow stronger, avoiding activities that cause pain. Although it is important to use caution when you are starting out, you do need to exercise at a level that challenges your body.

And here's an important point to mention… I find that many older individuals shy away from exercise out of fear of injury or discomfort. Please remember that exercise actually reduces your risk of injury and helps to ease everyday aches and pains.

As for adults adopting an exercise routine later in life, I like to use the example of my own mother. She didn't start working out until she was 74 and today, at the age of 77, she has gained significant improvements in strength, flexibility, balance and mental clarity.

My mother is a perfect example of how one can benefit from exercise even when they start their program later in life. You can see videos of her progress and the exercise routine she uses today on our website – a true inspiration for even the most sedentary, older individual!

As with any new fitness program, if you have a history of heart disease or other health concerns, please get clearance from your health care professional before starting your Peak Fitness program.

How to Get Started With Your Peak Fitness Program

I hope by now you understand how important fitness is achieving and maintaining optimal health. And I truly hope you're ready to get started if you haven't already…

Where do you start?

You don't need a gym membership to do Peak Fitness exercises. Nor do you need special equipment. You just need to discover what works best for you.

You have choices…

Dr. McGuff teaches how you can reap great benefits with high-intensity super-slow weight training, which you can read more about on our website.
You can run, but… unless you're a seasoned athlete, I advise against using outdoor sprinting for your Peak Fitness workout, as I've known several people who have injured themselves their first time out.
You can use exercise equipment like an elliptical machine or exercise bike. I have found that individuals who use these pieces of equipment typically experience faster and more reliable results. Plus, bikes and ellipticals can make Peak Fitness workouts easy to do and more entertaining.

Phil Campbell has recently partnered with the premiere equipment company Vision Fitness that manufactures quality exercise bikes and ellipticals.

If you are looking to invest in a new exercise bike or elliptical for your exercise routine, I highly recommend you check these out…

How a Semi-Recumbent Bike May Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals Faster…

Exercise bikes have long been a staple ingredient of indoor exercise programs.

However, not everyone enjoys or feels comfortable with the upright position and rock-hard saddle seat typically found on traditional stationary bikes. As the first wave of baby boomers begin turning 60, the booming interest in fitness and comfort has inspired a whole new generation of exercise bikes.

Vision Fitness Home Model R2250

The semi-recumbent bike combines the best features of an upright bike and a recumbent bike.

Easier to mount and straddle than an upright bike, a semi-recumbent bike offers step-through access and low comfortable handlebars.

A larger – and sometimes reclining – soft bucket seat allows you to sit "in" the seat rather than "on" the seat of an upright bike.

The angle of the seat and its lumbar support "takes your back out of exercise".

A high quality semi-recumbent bike can offer you many potential benefits:

Help increase or maintain flexibility
Promote optimal circulation throughout your entire body
Help maintain strength and endurance in your leg muscles
Help burn calories and promote your ideal body weight
Help support cardiovascular fitness
Slim and tighten your legs, thighs, and butt

Unlike its traditional upright cousin, a semi-recumbent workout involves your "glutes" or the gluteal muscles of your butt for a sleeker, slimmer look – an added benefit that many exercisers appreciate!

Pedal to Peak Fitness with Award-Winning Semi-Recumbent Bikes

Vision Fitness, a U.S. company with a long, successful history, has won over 30 Best Buy awards for their high quality, precision-crafted fitness bikes, elliptical trainers, and treadmills.

Together with Phil Campbell's endorsement, there's now even less reason to look elsewhere for a value-packed, well-constructed piece of equipment to help you meet your fitness goals.

They are perhaps best known for their smooth, quiet, and comfortable exercise bikes.

Vision Fitness Commercial Model R70

With generous home and commercial use warranties, you can enjoy years of a smooth, friction-free ride with their patented Quiet-Glide™ technology and overall maintenance-free performance.

In fact, these bikes are so quiet you can read a book or watch your favorite television show.

And until you've sat in the semi-recumbent bike's body-contoured foam seat – their patented Comfort Arc™ seat (found on the home use model) – you have no idea how comfortable an exercise bike can be.

Indeed, a far cry from the rigid saddle seats found on upright bikes!

Most importantly, Vision Fitness bikes are built to withstand the long-term stress of regular and vigorous workouts, unlike many lighter weight bikes on the market

I have used mine regularly for the last two years and it is just as good as the day I got it. No annoying squeaks, groans or other signs of imperfect engineering.

Speaking of Peak Fitness… in just a minute you'll find out how you can get Phil Campbell's SPRINT 8 program right at your fingertips – at no extra charge!

In cooperation with Vision Fitness, we are offering two models of their exceptional fitness bikes – the R2250 for Home Use and the R70 Commercial Model.

You can find out more about Vision Fitness' semi-recumbent bikes here.

Are You Ready to Step Up to a TOTAL Body Workout?
An Elliptical Trainer May Be Your Perfect Choice

Quickly sprinting to the #1 spot in popularity, elliptical trainers are fast becoming exercisers' top choice in fitness products, even overtaking the treadmill.

Why? Elliptical trainers, with their moving support bars…

Offer a lower impact workout than treadmills with less pounding and stress on your ankles, knees and hip joints
Pack a lot of fitness equipment into a comparatively small footprint
Provide an efficient total body and cardio workout, including your upper body and all major muscle groups
Provide an indoor weight-bearing exercise
Easy to use with a natural motion stride that simulates walking or jogging

They can offer you all the health benefits of a semi-recumbent bike and more. If a total body workout – including leg, arm, and core muscles – appeals to you, consider stepping up to a quality elliptical trainer.

Vision Fitness Suspension Elliptical Trainers…
The Most Natural Elliptical Footpath on the Market?

Vision Fitness did serious analysis with users at every incline angle and pedaling direction to make sure that the footplate on their elliptical trainer would properly adjust when the user changed their stride.

Through their research, "Perfect Stride" was developed.

Thanks to this patented PerfectStride™ technology, Vision Fitness Suspension Elliptical Trainers provide a smooth, ideal stride motion with an ergonomic elliptical foot path.

The shape of the ellipse, as you can see in the illustration, creates a smooth and easy transition from the top of the ellipse, where the muscles are relatively inactive, to the bottom of the ellipse, where the muscles are activated to propel the user through the cycle.

S7200HRT Suspension Elliptical

This improved motion emphasizing your gluteus, hamstring, and quad muscles gives you a more effective workout than traditional elliptical trainers.

Plus, PerfectStride™ ensures proper posture and proper alignment between the knee and hip joints.

And the unique suspension design provides an exceptionally smooth feel, utmost comfort, and unmatched accessibility.

It only makes sense… if you're going to put in the time and effort to give your body a great workout; you certainly want to receive maximum benefits.

Together with Vision Fitness, we are offering two models of their precision-made Suspension Elliptical Trainers – the S7200HRT for Home Use and the S70 Commercial Model.

You can find out more about these two models here.

Now… Phil Campbell's SPRINT 8 Program Can Be Right
At Your Fingertips – and At NO Extra Cost!

Vision Fitness has teamed up with the renowned author of "Ready, Set, Go! Synergy Fitness," Phil Campbell, to develop an anaerobic SPRINT 8 program found exclusively on Vision Fitness® cardio products.

Now tried and true results are at your fingertips... Just step on, press a button, and Phil's program guides you through your 20-minute SPRINT 8 Workout. There's no guessing when to start, when to speed up, or when to slow down for your recovery cycles. A high-intensity workout has never been easier!

This feature is only available on Vision Fitness' quality equipment. And that one feature alone, in my opinion, makes these bikes and ellipticals unmatched in the marketplace. Plus, you'll receive this invaluable built-in feature on all four pieces of equipment at NO extra cost!

Here are some of SPRINT 8 highlights that you're sure to enjoy:

Each workout takes only 20 minutes
The perfect workout for all ages, sizes and fitness levels
Helps melt away body fat and tone muscle
Boosts energy
Improves speed and performance

Because these bikes and ellipticals meet my exacting standards and because I want to do everything possible to help you get started, we're excited to bring these exceptionally quality pieces directly to you.

To find out more about our home and commercial Semi-recumbent exercise bikes, go here.

To find out more about our home and commercial Suspension Elliptical Trainers, go here.

Please… Stop Making Excuses. The Time is NOW to
Get Your Body – and Your Life – in Shape!

Whichever way you choose to do your Peak Fitness workout, the most important message I can leave you with is… please start. Your life may depend on it.

I can confidently assure you that exercise will make a major difference in your energy levels, self-esteem and perhaps your entire outlook on life. It's really that powerful.

If you're over 40, it's essential that you either start or step up your exercise program. This is the time of life when your physical strength, stamina, balance, and flexibility start to decline, and exercise can help turn that around.

Remember the 3 promises I made to you earlier? Showing you an exercise program that…

Wasn't boring,
Didn't waste hours of your precious time, and
Provided breakthrough benefits that could potentially make a difference in your wellbeing?

I'm convinced that Peak Fitness delivers all this and so much more. When you give it a try, I know you'll agree.

And now it's time to get started. Ready… set… go! (To order click HERE)

***Disclaimer: I have no vested interests in any of the above. I'm simply offering it because I would like to see you improve your health.

Cancer Breakthrough: 50-60% Success Rate, Cures the Incurable

2012-01-12T00:10:00.002-05:00

Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski and his son, Dr. Gregory Burzynski, employ novel gene-target therapies in the treatment of cancer, which is the leading cause of death in the US.

Born in the early 1940's in Poland, Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski was trained as a biochemist and a physician, and has been developing a treatment called antineoplastons over the past 35 years. He's also the Founder, President and Chairman of the Burzynski Institute, located in both Houston, Texas, and Stafford.

Cancer Cure Documentary - Dr. Burzynski Antineoplaston Therapy

A montage of previously unreleased footage from "The Cancer Cure"

An interview with Drs. Stanislaw and Burzynksi
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Treatment at the Burzynski Clinic - Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Suzanne Summers visit the Burzynski Clinic

An investigative report of Dr. Burzynksi and his Antineoplastons

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski is known for developing a gene-specific treatment using a combination of antineoplastons he developed to target specific cancers, conventional cancer drugs, and natural complementary strategies, including customized diets and exercise.
Interestingly for the last few years he has also been doing a test which sequences all his cancer patients genes so he knows how to customize the program for their genetics.

Proving this Therapy Works

Twelve phase 2 clinical trials have been successfully completed under the supervision of the FDA, and they are now conducting three phase 3 clinical trials. Six additional phase 3 trials are also being planned.
“Currently, our efforts are directed to treat patients with malignant brain tumors especially children and also patients who have advanced colon cancer which could spread to the liver. This is in the area of clinical trials.
As far as our medical oncology practice is concerned, we treat all kinds of cancers especially patients who have the disease advanced to the point that they were told that there is nothing that can be done. That’s the typical patient who is coming to us, the patient with very advanced cancer who has tried other types of treatment and who are simply told to go to the hospital because there is nothing else that can be done.”
Interestingly, they’re not receiving any funding for these studies from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or any other organization.
“We are running this completely from our own resources,” Dr. Burzynski says. “It is very expensive… That’s why it’s so difficult… But that’s what we have to do.
Basically, the FDA permits us to use antineoplastons for patients who are not in clinical trials, but then we have to ask the FDA for such permission. Of course, the good news about it is that one medication from antineoplaston group is already approved as a prescription medication. This one we can use in combination with other medication as we feel is necessary.”

The Coming Paradigm Shift in Cancer Treatment

According to Dr. Burzynski, the entire medical world is facing a major paradigm shift when it comes to the treatment of cancer.
"For approximately a century and a half, the treatment of cancer was based on a pathology diagnosis established under optic microscope," Dr. Burzynski says. "The doctors simply would like to know the name of the cancer... And every patient who had such cancer received the same standard of care and treatment.
Now we know that cancer is caused by a combination of genes. There is not just one type of lung cancer but perhaps hundreds or thousands different types of lung cancer, each one with different genomic structure.
Now, what we are facing is a paradigm shift, from the treatment of cancer type established by pathology diagnosis under optic microscope to the treatment of genes that are causing cancer. It's a completely different approach. That's what we are using now."
His strategy includes studying the patient's entire cancerous genome; analyzing some 24,000 genes in each cancer patient, in order to identify the abnormal genes. Once identified, medications and complementary strategies such as diet and supplements are selected to treat these corrupted genes. (This genetic testing, although new, is fully covered by any insurance carrier, including Medicare.)
"A person's genome consists of about 24,000 genes. But the number of abnormal genes in the different cancers differs. For instance, 100 abnormal genes can average lung cancer. It could be close to 600 genes in a malignant brain tumor like GBM (Glioblastoma Multiforme).
But these abnormal genes "hijack" normal genes, forming a malignant network that is typically composed of close to 3000 genes. Unless you destroy this malignant network, you are not going to win with cancer. That's what we are trying to do."

Using Molecular Analysis to Determine the Best Treatment Course

Once they've determined which genes are involved in the cancer, drugs and supplements are identified to target those genes. Antineoplastons work on approximately 100 cancer-causing genes, but traditional oncology agents (including chemotherapy) are also used, typically in combination with antineoplastons.
Dr. Gregory Burzinski explains:
"For example, when we do this molecular analysis we have a good amount of options. We can use supplements. We can use targeted therapies. We can even use some chemotherapy. It's great when we even have a target such as vitamin D3 that can be used as a cancer therapy… It's not just simply using the first line chemotherapy—you can really expand on this and use the supplements that we have in our armory already, and this can be proven by what is shown on the molecular analysis."
This can be important, as some supplements—although generally accepted as beneficial—can make some cancers worse. Here, genetic analysis is used to customize every aspect of the treatment. This customization also includes your diet, because as Dr. Burzynski says, "diet is after all a combination of chemicals," meaning nutrients.

What are Antineoplastons?

Antineoplastons are peptides and derivatives of amino acids that act as molecular switches. However, as genome research blossomed and science progressed, Dr. Burzynski discovered that antineoplastons also work as genetic switches.
"They turn off the genes that cause cancer," he explains. "This means oncogenes. And they turn on or activate the genes that fight cancer, which are chemo suppressor genes.
Basically, we are using molecular switches that work on approximately 100 genes involved in cancer. Approximately 80 percent of these genes, which we are turning off, are oncogenes but about 20 percent, which we are turning on, are chemo suppressors. Gene p53, for instance, when it's activated it can kill cancer cells.
For some patients whom we treat, that's enough.
If we use medications like antineoplastons… we can get rid of every one of the cancer cells and they will never come back. We have patients who are now surviving over 20 years with incurable cancers and are perfectly free from cancer.
They live normal lives."
Twelve different antineoplastons are currently known, of which five have gone through clinical trials. The antineoplastons were initially obtained from blood. For a time they were then extracted from urine, but they've now been using synthetic antineoplastons since 1980.

Vitamin D for Cancer

According to Dr. Burzynski, there's definitive genetic support for the use of vitamin D in the treatment of cancer.
"Vitamin D has very little efficacy, but if you combine it with the other medications you can have substantial results, especially for patients who have silencing or who have turning off the activity of the gene called TXNIP (Thioredoxin Interacting Protein). This is an important tumor suppressor gene that works together with another tumor suppressor gene called p10 or PTN.
We can determine by running genomic analysis if this particular patient may benefit from vitamin D3. If that's the case, certainly we would like to use it. All of this can be determined logically through genetic analysis."
This supports the conclusion of other experts, who suggest that vitamin D is most effective when used proactively andpreventatively. Research has shown that by optimizing your vitamin D levels year-round, you significantly reduce your risk of developing cancer in the first place.
"Absolutely," Dr. Burzynski says. "This is a great idea. In the future, we may be able to determine based on genomic analysis of cells isolated from the blood stream what the exact vitamin D requirement is for each patient.
Of course, now we can go along by determining the concentrations of vitamin D in the blood and this can give you some idea. Certainly, it's a very good preventive agent to be used but also we can use this therapeutically in combination with the other agents when we have proper genomic analysis."

Curcumin: A Potent Cancer Fighter

Another important supplement is curcumin, which effectively addresses inflammation and has potent anti-cancer properties.
Dr. Burzynski agrees on this point as well.
"For instance, it [curcumin] inhibits NF-kappa B gene in the brain… which protects the brain from inflammation. It works on a wide array of the genes. It suppresses oncogenes. It also promotes some chemosuppressor genes.
We use curcumin for a majority of our patients in supplements, but curcumin alone is poorly absorbed. Only about 1/20 part of curcumin is normally absorbed from your GI tract. We avoid that by combining curcumin with another alkaloid called piperine."
Interestingly, there are very few medications in existence that work on the NF-kappa B oncogene—which is also why pharmaceutical companies are currently working on a synthetic version of curcumin, for use in cancer drugs.
This is unfortunate, as whatever they come up with will be vastly inferior, cost far more than natural curcumin extracted from turmeric, and be loaded with side effects, as most synthetic drugs are.
"If done well, it may become another chemotherapy agent," Dr. Burzynski says. "But as you know, many chemotherapy drugs initially were based on materials isolated from plants, and when they were modified they become quite toxic."

Nutritional Typing—21st Century Style

As mentioned earlier, the Burzynski team also uses individualized meal plans in their treatment.
Each patient consults with a qualified nutritional expert, and the diet is customized to the patient based on the genomic analysis. In addition, they also use SNPs analysis, or Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms analysis, which determines how various nutrients and medications are metabolized in your body.
"Nutrition is very important," Dr. Burzynski says. "One of the things, as we are alluding to with curcumin, is to control inflammation. That's one of things you must do before you get cancer, and also when you have cancer.
Keeping your body with the proper nutrients is essential. We don't want to "feed the cancer." Things that promote cancer, we try to eliminate. We try to eliminate a lot of sugar. That for the most part will fuel the cancer growth.
We want to eliminate glutamine. Glutamine is an amino acid. It's great if you want to be a bodybuilder or if you don't have cancer, but if you do have cancer, for the most part, we encourage our patients to stay away from glutamine because that unfortunately is going to be one of the essential ingredients to cancer growth."
… Certainly, the diet depends on the context of the medications we are using for the patient. Certain dietary ingredients are going to support the medications which we prescribe. Some others may neutralize it.
We have to take under consideration which medication we prescribe. And then make sure that the patient is not taking supplements or dietary ingredients that can fight these medications. This is also established for every patient."

Impressive Success Rates

Dr. Burzynski currently has statistics for about 40 different types of cancer, covering close to 2,000 patients. Their oncology practice has an average of 50 to 60 percent success rate for either substantial decrease of the tumor sites or complete remission.
"But you have to understand that these are relatively recent medications. Many of these medications were introduced only about a year ago. For this group of patients, it's too premature to have long term survival data because the medications are brand new.
On the other hand, if you are talking about the treatment with antineoplastons, for every clinical trial we have separate statistics. The best results were obtained in the treatment of astrocytoma. In clinical trials for astrocytoma… 67 percent of patients obtained objective response, which means the tumors disappeared completely, which is called complete response. (More than 50 percent decrease of tumor size is a partial response.)
The rest of the patients had stabilization of the disease. In this particular clinical trial, we did not have any patient who had progressive disease. Zero progressive disease for this particular trial."
To put this into perspective, some of the best combination treatments you will currently find for the treatment of astrocytoma have a success rate of approximately 30-40 percent, and a progressive disease rate of about 40 percent, according to Dr. Burzynski.

Other Complementary Treatment Strategies

Two other components considered to be very important in alternative medicine in the treatment of cancer are exercise and the mind-body-spirit-stress connection.
Dr. Burzynski agrees that exercise is very important, and that your mind is indeed a powerful factor when addressing disease. In their practice, they use neurolinguistic programming to help their patients relax, and to promote a stress-free experience in their office.
"A lot of times people don't have that stress free environment. This helps all their cells get better and with that, their stress is relieved and their blood pressure improves.
… And, as you mentioned exercise is huge. Patients should not be in bed. We need to get them moving. Studies have shown that exercise helps cancer patients across the board."

On Harassment and Ignorance by the Conventional Medicine Community

By now many of you are probably thinking that since Dr. Burzynski is using genetics, the medical community must laud and support their efforts. Unfortunately, that's not necessarily so.
Back in the 1990's, the state of Texas tried to take away his medical license, claiming he was a fraud.
"This was based on complete lack of understanding and scientific ignorance," Dr. Burzynski explains. "Obviously, the people who were persecuting us, most of them did not know what they were doing, but some of them knew very well because they were trying to steal my patents and my invention.
There was a combination of factors. You mentioned State authorities; this was one level of harassment. Another level of harassment was from the Federal government, represented by the FDA. Apparently… it was triggered by a pharmaceutical company, which together with the National Cancer Institute was trying to appropriate our patent. It was very convenient to persecute me and try to put me in prison.
However, they were not successful, we won.
It was extremely difficult to practice under such circumstances, but the clinic was open every day… It was very tough. I remember waking up early in the morning, coming to the clinic at 5 or 6 in the morning, seeing patients then going to court at 8 o'clock, spending the entire day in court until 5 pm, then coming back to the clinic, seeing patients, taking care of medical records well after midnight. This was day after day. It was an extremely difficult situation but we went through it, and we won.
At this moment, we have very good cooperation with FDA. We are working together and hopefully we will have successful phase 3 clinical trials."
Amazingly, this legal fight dragged on for 14 years! It's hard to imagine anyone making it through such an ordeal. Most people don't. As for the cost, Dr. Burzynski describes it as "tremendous." After factoring in the actual legal expenses and the lost revenue, the tally comes to about $3 million.
In addition, the FDA and Federal government allegedly spent about $60 million on the litigation alone—just to appropriate his patents for a pharmaceutical company! The pharmaceutical company in question eventually went bankrupt after Dr. Burzynski won the case. According to Dr. Burzynski, the full story will be detailed in an upcoming documentary.

Final Thoughts

His challenges certainly serve as a sobering illustration of the kind of courage required to really make advances in this area. In essence, anyone with the guts to try will usually have to pay a steep price for stepping on the toes of drug companies and threatening their future bottom line.
Much of the resistance against alternative and complementary cancer strategies such as the protocol developed by Dr. Burzynski really flies in the face of common sense. Conventional medicine purports to be beholden to science-based medicine, yet it resists and denies solid science-based evidence again and again.
Still, pioneers such as Dr. Burzynski and his son keep moving forward; laying the groundwork for the inevitable paradigm shift.
"To sum it up, I think the 21^st century is going to be known for personalized medicine and also preventing certain diseases in that sense," Dr. Burzynski says. "I hope with all the tools we have, we'll get really great results."

To Dr. Mercola's site HERE

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Burzynski | 2-DVD Set Extended Edition Montage Preview of New Material | Cancer Is Serious Business

Burzynski, the Movie is the story of a medical doctor and Ph.D biochemist named Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski who won the largest, and possibly the most convoluted and intriguing legal battle against the Food & Drug Administration in American history.

His victorious battles with the United States government were centered around Dr. Burzynski's gene-targeted cancer medicines he discovered in the 1970's called Antineoplastons, which have currently completed Phase II FDA-supervised clinical trials in 2009 and could begin the final phase of FDA testing in 2011--barring the ability to raise the required $300 million to fund the final phase of FDA clinical trials.

When Antineoplastons are approved, it will mark the first time in history a single scientist, not a pharmaceutical company, will hold the exclusive patent and distribution rights on a paradigm-shifting medical breakthrough.

Antineoplastons are responsible for curing some of the most incurable forms of terminal cancer. Various cancer survivors are presented in the film who chose these medicines instead of surgery, chemotherapy or radiation - with full disclosure of medical records to support their diagnosis and recovery - as well as systematic (non-anecdotal) FDA-supervised clinical trial data comparing Antineoplastons to other available treatments—which is published within the peer-reviewed medical literature.

One form of cancer - diffuse, intrinsic, childhood brainstem glioma has never before been cured in any scientifically controlled clinical trial in the history of medicine. Antineoplastons hold the first cures in history - dozens of them.

This documentary takes the audience through the treacherous, yet victorious, 14-year journey both Dr. Burzynski and his patients have had to endure in order to obtain FDA-approved clinical trials of Antineoplastons.

Dr. Burzynski resides and practices medicine in Houston, Texas. He was able to initially produce and administer his discovery without FDA-approval from 1977-1995 because the state of Texas at this time did not require that Texas physicians be required to adhere to Federal law in this situation. This law has since been changed.

As with anything that changes current-day paradigms, Burzynski's ability to successfully treat incurable cancer with such consistency has baffled the industry. Ironically, this fact had prompted numerous investigations by the Texas Medical Board, who relentlessly took Dr. Burzynski as high as the state supreme court in their failed attempt to halt his practices.

Likewise, the Food and Drug Administration engaged in four Federal Grand Juries spanning over a decade attempting to indict Dr. Burzynski, all of which ended in no finding of fault on his behalf. Finally, Dr. Burzynski was indicted in their 5th Grand Jury in 1995, resulting in two federal trials and two sets of jurors finding him not guilty of any wrongdoing. If convicted, Dr. Burzynski would have faced a maximum of 290 years in a federal prison and $18.5 million in fines.

However, what was revealed a few years after Dr. Burzynski won his freedom, helps to paint a more coherent picture regarding the true motivation of the United States government's relentless persecution of Stanislaw Burzynski, M.D., Ph.D.

Note: When Antineoplastons are approved for public use, it will allow a single scientist to hold an exclusive right to manufacture and sell these medicines on the open market—leaving the pharmaceutical industry absent in profiting from the most effective gene-targeted cancer treatment the world has ever seen.

To purchase the 2 DVD set click HERE.

The Gerson Diet

2012-01-11T15:37:00.000-05:00

Documentary filmmaker Stephen Kroschel asks whether the long-suppressed form of cancer treatment known as Gerson Therapy could truly be as effective as some cancer survivors claim in this film that offers a wide array of testimonies from medical specialists, health experts, and patients. More than seventy five years after being proven to cure degenerative disease, Gerson Therapy is still virtually unknown to the masses - but why? In order to seek out an answer to this question, Kroschel travels across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, across the United States, and through Japan, Holland, and Mexico to speak with a wide variety of scientists, nutritionists, surgeons, and patients who have witnessed the powerful effects of Gerson Therapy firsthand.

Though I don't agree with this producer's conclusion about "global warming" (which he mentions at the outset), I have found his research to be sincere and accurate.

A troubled 15-year-old boy attempting to cope with the recent death of his mother sets out to research Dr. Max Gerson's claims of a diet that can cure cancer as his first assignment for home-schooling in this documentary from filmmaker Steve Kroschel (Avalanche, Dying to Have Known). Garrett is a boy who has always been close to nature. He lives on a reserve with a menagerie of orphaned animals, and over the years he's become especially sensitive to the nutritional needs of the diet-sensitive animals he's charged with caring for. When Garrett's mother suffers a tragic and untimely death, the boy falls into a dangerous downward spiral and nearly flunks out of school.

Increasingly concerned for Garrett's well-being and determined to strengthen their bond despite the many challenges on the horizon, his father makes the decision to begin home-schooling the distressed teen. Garrett's first assignment: study a controversial book written by Dr. Max Gerson, a physician who claims to have discovered a diet that's capable of curing cancer. Is Dr. Gerson's therapy truly the legitimate, alternative cure it appears to be? In order to find out the truth behind this long-suppressed treatment, Garrett interviews not only Dr. Gerson's family members, but various doctors, skeptics, and cancer patients as well. His studies completed and his findings revelatory, Garrett now sets out to tell the entire world about The Gerson Miracle.

The Gerson Miracle introduces us to the physician who developed The Gerson Therapy more than 75 years ago, a therapy that has proven to cure cancer and most other chronic and degenerative diseases. Through his own painful struggle with migraines, Dr. Max Gerson conceived a treatment based entirely on nutrition and the body's own ability to heal itself.

He cured his migraines and summarily concentrated on other methods that prove to naturally boost the immune system, this is the real miracle.

Nine current and former patients speak passionately about their successful recoveries from the most deadly cancers.

Their first-person recovery stories are the greatest testament to the therapy's efficacy. And it is through Dr. Gerson's daughter, Charlotte, that the therapy is still alive in the face of almost insurmountable opposition from the American Medical Association and most major pharmaceutical companies. This film offers a path to a healthier life, in tune with our bodies and environment, not in conflict with them.

Your doctor may not advise you how you can heal your body from degenerative diseases naturally... but this film can.

What is covered in the film:

-- The cancer industry: with the law on its side

-- Natural cancer treatments

-- Dr. Max Gerson's life story

-- The link between farming and disease... and health!

-- The role of toxicity excess and nutrient deficiency in illness.

With every meal, we are either digging our own graves with the silverware, or ensuring a healthy and productive life.

The Gerson Miracle challenges the very foundations that society's sick-care system is based on.

It also delivers a health-affirming message that empowers viewers to reclaim autonomy for their own well-being.

This film dares to reveal that your potential for health exceeds the limitations imposed on us by the sickness industry.

"Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine, And Thy Medicine Be Thy Food." - Hippocrates That is the message from the founding father of modern medicine echoed in this brave new documentary film brought to you by Producer-Directors James Colquhoun and Laurentine ten Bosch. 'Food Matters' is a hard hitting, fast paced look at our current state of health. Despite the billions of dollars of funding and research into new so-called cures we continue to suffer from a raft of chronic ills and every day maladies. Patching up an over-toxic and over-indulgent population with a host of toxic therapies and nutrient sparse foods is definitely not helping the situation. In a personal quest of discovery James & Laurentine together with a film crew and the editorial and production expertise of Enzo Tedeschi have set out on an independent mission to uncover the wholesome truth.

The filmmakers have interviewed several world leaders in nutrition and natural healing who claim that not only are we harming our bodies with improper nutrition, but that the right kind of foods, supplements and detoxification can be used to treat chronic illnesses as fatal as terminally diagnosed cancer. 'Food Matters' seeks to uncover the business of disease and at the same time explore the safe, cheap and effective use of nutrition and supplementation for preventing and often reversing the underlying causative aspects of the illness. With the premise of the film being: access to solid information helps people invariably make better choices for their health. The 'Food Matters' duo have independently funded the film from start to finish in order to remain as unbiased as possible, delivering a clear and concise message to the world. Food Matters.

Love Our Enemies? You have got to be kidding!

2011-10-25T00:38:00.003-04:00

Are we truly the peacemakers Christ has called us to be? Are we taking to heart the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount? Do we love our enemies or would we prefer to bomb them into the stone-age? Are we praying for those who persecute us or would we rather take retribution into our own hands? Do we turn the other cheek and return evil with good? Do we first check for the log in our own eye before pointing out the speck in other's? You may answer affirmatively to all these commands, but I, on the other hand, find them contrary to my innermost being. What is Jesus' way? And is it the way Christians have been taught to respond?

I find there's a huge disconnect in the way we live personally and the way we expect our government to act. If our neighbor threatens us, do we immediately decide to blow up their home? Yet, collectively, I believe we have adopted a rather unchristian retributive mindset. Why doesn't our individual call translate to the larger context?

Listen to one man's story of how he is living the Gospel of Christ. He talks about "the Jesus way," which translates into loving his enemies as he shares the love of Jesus. He is truly a minister of reconciliation. My prayer is that this short film will touch you as it did me.

Daoud Nassar

On Facebook and throughout the internet, I hear vehement opposition from Christians regarding President Obama's decision to pull our troops from Iraq. Why? Quite simple. Iran. Iran, we are told is a a direct threat to Israel. Is that true? Consider myth #6 from 6 Myths you probably believe about American's Enemies. I don't condone this writer's use of occasional crass comments, and I certainly don't consider him an expert on world affairs, but he makes some compelling arguments that are worthy of consideration. Nonetheless, doesn't all this saber rattling toward Iran sound familiar? Isn't that the way it's been done time after time, country after country?

I sincerely don't want these geopolitical arguments to usurp the attention I think this video deserves. I merely brought up because of the the way we have been conditioned to view the world. Anything either America or Israel does is right, fair and noble. Both nations are deemed models of altruistic virtuosity. But is that really the case? How much do you really know of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict other than the fact you've probably been told that Palestinians are a bunch of dirty, suicide-bombing antagonists?

Surely, this is a very complex issue that find plenty of fault on both sides, but what you may not know is how the Christians within Palestine are and have been treated.

Many may be unaware that there are, and have been, Christians living in Palestine for generations. Daoud Nassar (the subject of the above video) is an Arab Palestinian Christian who lives on a small farm outside of Bethlehem. Each summer he hosts a creative arts camp for refugee children and teaches them to strive for peace in this region. Matt Carter interviews Daoud about his land, the difficulties he and his family are facing, and how his faith has characterized his life in tumultuous times.

For more information on Daoud and his organization please visit: www.tentofnations.org

Is Mormonism just another Christian denomination?

2011-10-21T23:39:00.000-04:00

Watch this very short video for one man's answer.

Now let's consider what Mormonism believes about Christianity?

Lately, Mormonism has been the subject of considerable news and internet chatter primarily due to Mitt Romney's run for the presidency. The question? Is Mitt Romney a member of a cult, or is Mormonism simply just another Christian denomination? In that light, instead of answering this question through the lens of various Christian leaders and apologists, I thought it would be instructive and enlightening to turn the tables a bit and consider what leading Mormon founders and prophets had to say about Christianity. At this point let me be clear. This blog article will not concern itself with the debate whether a Mormon is fit to serve in this nation's highest office. That's for another time.

Now, it is important to note that the below quotes do not come from merely nominal members of the Mormon church, but in fact issue from a founder and other "inspired" Mormon church prophets who speak directly and unequivocally for the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints.

As you are about to find, not only have some Mormon leaders made it clear that they do not consider Mormonism "Christian", these leaders have insisted that no one can be saved apart from Joseph Smith. Also, some are on record as stating that even Islam is better than Christianity. All I can say is, brace yourself!

Mormon leaders who have condemned Christians:

"This is not just another Church. This is not just one of a family of Christian churches. This is the Church and kingdom of God, the only true Church upon the face of the earth..." ~ Prophet Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.164-165

"What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world" ~ Prophet Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.270

"...all the priests who adhere to the sectarian religions of the day with all their followers, without one exception, receive their portion with the devil and his angels." ~ Prophet Joseph Smith , The Elders Journal, Joseph Smith Jr., editor, vol.1, no.4, p.60

"Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the 'whore of Babylon' whom the Lord denounces by the mouth of John the Revelator as having corrupted all the earth by their fornications and wickedness. Any person who shall be so corrupt as to receive a holy ordinance of the Gospel from the ministers of any of these apostate churches will be sent down to hell with them, unless they repent" ~ Apostle Orson Pratt proclaimed, The Seer, p. 255

"The Christian world, so-called, are heathens as to the knowledge of the salvation of God" ~ Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:171

"After the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, there were only two churches upon the earth. They were known respectively as the Church of the Lamb of God and Babylon. The various organizations which are called churches throughout Christendom, though differing in their creeds and organizations, have one common origin. They all belong to Babylon" ~ George Q. Cannon said, Gospel Truth, p.324

"When the light came to me I saw that all the so-called Christian world was grovelling in darkness." ~ Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 5:73

"With a regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world." ~ Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:199

Orson Pratt

"Brother Taylor has just said that the religions of the day were hatched in hell. The eggs were laid in hell, hatched on its borders, and then kicked on to the earth." ~ Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 6:176

"Christians—those poor, miserable priests brother Brigham was speaking about—some of them are the biggest whoremasters there are on the earth, and at the same time preaching righteousness to the children of men. The poor devils, they could not get up here and preach an oral discourse, to save themselves from hell; they are preaching their fathers' sermons —preaching sermons that were written a hundred years before they were born. ...You may get a Methodist priest to pour water on you, or sprinkle it on you, and baptize you face foremost, or lay you down the other way, and whatever mode you please, and you will be damned with your priest." ~ Apostle Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, 5:89

"The Gospel of modern Christendom shuts up the Lord, and stops all communication with Him. I want nothing to do with such a Gospel, I would rather prefer the Gospel of the dark ages, so called"- Prophet Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p.196

"But as there has been no Christian Church on the earth for a great many centuries past, until the present century, the people have lost sight of the pattern that God has given according to which the Christian Church should be established, and they have denominated a great variety of Christian Churches ... But there has been a long apostasy, during which the nations have been cursed with apostate churches in great abundance" ~ Apostle Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, 18:172

"Christianity...is a perfect pack of nonsense...the devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p.167);

"Where shall we look for the true order or authority of God? It cannot be found in any nation of Christendom." ~ Prophet John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, 10:127

"What! Are Christians ignorant? Yes, as ignorant of the things of God as the brute beast." ~ Prophet John Taylor, Journal of Discourses 13:225

"What does the Christian world know about God? Nothing... Why so far as the things of God are concerned, they are the veriest fools; they know neither God nor the things of God."- John Taylor, Journal of Discourses 13:225

"Doctrines were corrupted, authority lost, and a false order of religion took the place of the gospel of Jesus Christ, just as it had been the case in former dispensations, and the people were left in spiritual darkness. For hundreds of years the world was wrapped in a veil of spiritual darkness, until there was not one fundamental truth belonging to the place of salvation ...Joseph Smith declared that in the year 1820 the Lord revealed to him that all the 'Christian' churches were in error, teaching for commandments the doctrines of men." ~ Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p.282

"...the Book of Mormon remains secure, unchanged and unchangeable, ...But with the Bible it was not and is not so....it was once in the sole and exclusive care and custody of an abominable organization (Christianity), founded by the devil himself, likened prophetically unto a great whore, whose great aim and purpose was to destroy the souls of men in the name of religion. In these hands it ceased to be the book it once was."- Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, The Joseph Smith Translation, pp. 12, 13

"Must we, under the broad folds of the American Constitution, be compelled to bow down to the narrow contracted notions of Apostate Christianity? Must we shut up our consciences in a nut shell, and be compelled to submit to the bigoted notions, and whims, and customs of the dark ages of popery, transferred to us through the superstitious of our fathers? Must we be slaves to custom and render homage to the soul-destroying, sickening influences of modern Christianity? No!" ~ Official Church Publication "The Seer," Vol.1, No.7, p.111

"And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this (Mormon) church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth..." ~ Supposedly Jesus Christ Himself, Doctrine and Covenants 1:30

Salvation not Through Jesus Christ, but Joseph Smith?

[There is] "no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith. If Joseph Smith was verily a prophet, and if he told the truth...no man can reject that testimony without incurring the most dreadful consequences, for he cannot enter the kingdom of God" ~ Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p.190

"No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith...every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are... [Joseph Smith] reigns there as supreme a being in his sphere, capacity, and calling, as God does in heaven. Many will exclaim—"Oh, that is very disagreeable! It is preposterous! We cannot bear the thought!" But it is true." ~ Prophet Birgham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p.289-91

"He that confesseth not that Jesus has come in the flesh and sent Joseph Smith with the fullness of the Gospel to this generation, is not of God, but is anti-christ" ~ Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 9, p.312

"If we get our salvation, we shall have to pass by him [Joseph Smith]; if we enter our glory, it will be through the authority he has received. We cannot get around him [Joseph Smith]" ~ Apostle George Q. Cannon, as quoted in 1988 Melchizedek Priesthood Study Guide, p. 142

"I tell you, Joseph holds the keys, and none of us can get into the celestial kingdom without passing by him. We have not got rid of him, but he stands there as the sentinel, holding the keys of the kingdom of God; and there are many of them beside him. I tell you, if we get past those who have mingled with us, and know us best, and have a right to know us best, probably we can pass all other sentinels as far as it is necessary, or as far as we may desire. But I tell you, the pinch will be with those that have mingled with us, stood next to us, weighed our spirits, tried us, and proven us: there will be a pinch, in my view, to get past them. The others, perhaps, will say, If brother Joseph is satisfied with you, you may pass. If it is all right with him, it is all right with me. Then if Joseph shall say to a man, or if brother Brigham say to a man, I forgive you your sins, "Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them;" if you who have suffered and felt the weight of transgression—if you have generosity enough to forgive the sinner, I will forgive him: you cannot have more generosity than I have. I have given you power to forgive sins, and when the Lord gives a gift, he does not take it back again." ~ Apostle Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p.154-155

"It is to be feared that in course of a century, some gifted man like Paul, some splendid orator, who will be able by his eloquence to attract crowds of the thousands who are ever ready to hear, and be carried away by, the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal of sparkling oratory, may command a hearing, may succeed in breathing a new life into this modern Mahometanism, and make the name of the martyred Joseph ring as loud, and stir the souls of men as much, as the mighty name of Christ itself. Sharon, Palmyra, Manchester, Kirtland, Far West, Adam-ondi-Ahman, Ramus. Nauvoo, and the Carthage Jail, may become holy and venerable names, places of classic interest, in another age; like Jerusalem, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives, and Mount Calvary to the Christian, and Mecca and Medina to the Turk." ~ Prophet Brigham Young, History of the Church, Vol. 7, p.40-41

Islam Better than Chistianity?

"The Greek and Roman Churches, which have been called Christian, and which take the name of Christians as a cloak, have worshipped innumerable idols. On this account, on the simple subject of the Deity and His worship, if nothing more, I should rather incline, of the two, after all my early traditions, education, and prejudices, to the side of Mahomet, for on this point he is on the side of truth, and the Christian world on the side of idolatry and heathenism." ~ Apostle Parley P. Pratt, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p.38

"Though Mahometan institutions are corrupt enough, and need reforming by the Gospel, I am inclined to think, upon the whole, leaving out the corruptions of men in high places among them, that they have better morals and better institutions than many Christian nations; and in many localities there have been high standards of morals. So far as that one point is concerned, of worshipping the one true God under the name of Mahometanism, together with many moral precepts, and in war only acting on the defensive, I think they have exceeded in righteousness and truthfulness of religion, the idolatrous and corrupt church that has borne the name of Christianity." ~ Apostle Parley P. Pratt, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p.41

"..instead of saying that Mahometanism prevailed against Christianity, and that Christianity was in danger of being done away by its prevalence, we would rather say, that where Mahometanism prevailed, it taught and established one truth at least, viz., the true and living God, and so far as this went, it did preserve people from worshipping idols. And had the crescent waved on the tower of London, or on the church of St. Paul, instead of the cross, and had the Mahometan religion been enforced instead of the Roman religion that was enforced for a series of generations, and had tradition riveted what the sword enforced, then that nation and the surrounding nations would have been worshippers of one true God instead of idols; they would have recognized it in theory at least, whether they would have worshipped Him in spirit and in truth or not. But now [Christians] do not recognize Him in theory, for they acknowledge as their god an imaginary being without body, parts, or passions." ~ Apostle Parley P. Pratt, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p.39

"Now, if we take Mahometanism during those dark ages, and the corruptions that are so universally prevalent over the earth, and the idolatrous systems of religion, falsely called Christianity, and weigh them in a balance; with all my education in favor of Christian nations and Christian powers, and Christian institutions, so called, with all my prejudices of early youth, and habits of thought and reading, my rational faculties would compel me to admit that the Mahometan history and Mahometan doctrine was a standard raised against the most corrupt and abominable idolatry that over perverted our earth, found in the creeds and worship of Christians, falsely so named." ~ Apostle Parley P. Pratt, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p.40

The Jesus Tomb Unmasked

2011-10-14T15:59:00.000-04:00

If the bones of Jesus Christ have been discovered, Christianity ceases to exist. Come on this journey to discover if the claims made by the Discovery Channel documentary are true.

This film does a devastating critique of Discovery Channel's "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" (produced by Avatar director James Cameron). The same scholars who were interviewed in this documentary are interviewed here. Many of them express their dismay over how they were taken out of context to make it appear that they think the supposed lost tomb of Jesus was authentic.

What explanation can be given for the empty tomb of Jesus of Nazareth? The New Testament records the first-century event: The disciples of Jesus reported that he was risen from the dead, while Roman soldiers were paid to claim his followers secretly removed him from the tomb.

After 2,000 years, the latest challenge to the historical resurrection of Jesus comes in the form of a bone box discovered in Jerusalem. The recent documentary The Lost Tomb of Jesus has popularized the hypothesis that Jesus' followers stole his body from the tomb by suggesting that the bone box inscribed with "Jesus son of Joseph" may contain the remains of Jesus of Nazareth.

As a new twist to the ancient debate, this challenge demands a response. Join us as we take a hard look at the evidence and answer the questions concerning the reliability of the resurrection. Have the bones of Jesus of Nazareth really been found? Is the resurrection history or myth? Find out here in this episode of Expedition Bible.

http://sourceflix.com
http://drcraigvideos.blogspot.com

There's still time to change your mind...

2011-10-13T12:04:00.002-04:00

Ya gotta love it! :)

Princess Brides Cast Reunites after 25 Years!

2011-10-09T17:13:00.000-04:00

This has got to rank as one of my all-time favorites. Charming, witty and just plain good clean fun. How can anyone not like this movie? And it's even that much more heartening knowing how much the cast enjoyed it and each other.

Most of the cast of The Princess Bride reunited on Good Morning America for the talk show's "Totally Awesome '80s Week." "When the movie came out, it wasn't a huge, huge hit. They couldn't quite figure out how to market it," Chris Sarandon, who played Prince Humperdinck, said. "They didn't really know what they had." When the film first opened in 1987, it grossed $206,243 in limited release during its opening weekend, according to Box Office Mojo.

Cary Elwes, who played Westley, "I think when I die, they'll say on my gravestone, 'As you wish.' I think every woman wants to hear that." Wallace Shawn, who portrayed Vizzini, recalled people approaching him and wanting him to say, "Inconceivable." Director Rob Reiner's first choice for Vizzini was Danny DeVito.

The "MLT" line that Miracle Max says in the film, one of the most quoted, was ad-libbed on-set, Billy Crystal confirmed.

When asked about the final kiss at the end of the movie, Robin Wright, who played Buttercup, joked to Elwes, "Who are you?" The cast members also reminisced about Andre the Giant, who passed away in 1993.

Fred Savage and Mandy Patinkin were not present. (from The Hollywood Reporter)

(A bit longer version but with a 30 second ad preceding)

Dispensationalism Exposed

2011-09-26T12:35:00.000-04:00

In the sermon (below), Archbishop Scott McLaughlin exposes the origins and outcomes of the popular idea of the "Rapture" of the Church, rebuking Harold Camping's predictions of the "Rapture" in May and the End-of-the-World in October. The entire "Dispensational" system of biblical interpretation is exposed as a fraud and a false system of belief that denys Christ, the Church, and the Gospel. Preached at Christ Anglican Church, Lexington, NC, on Rogation Sunday, May 29, AD 2011

Let me ask you a question. If at the very core, Dispensationalism is fatally flawed (and I believe this can be proven), then how can its eschatology be on solid ground? Many people reject the more hardcore teachings of dispensationalism e.g. an earthly and heavenly path to God, yet they don't realize that, since the foundations of this system are decrepit, the eschatological outgrowths must be one in the same.

However, I find people picking and choosing facets of dispensationalism much like a Chinese menu. The column A, column B approach is not valid because of the way dispensationalism is constructed. People don't realize that the rapture was a necessary fabrication to rid the world of the Church so that God could properly (they say) focus on the apple of His eye, Israel. It is a system that simply cannot be tweaked, though many try. It should be viewed as an elaborate jigsaw puzzle, where if one piece does not fit, the entire puzzle should be scrapped.

Any theology that exalts a physical nation i.e. the modern day secular nation of Israel, and makes it the focal point of history, is unwittingly doing severe injustice to the centrality of Jesus Christ as THE ONLY epicenter with which we must honor and revere. Any system that causes us to take our eyes off of Christ, must be rejected.

If you consider yourself a dispensationalist, I truly mean no offense. I'm not suggesting that you aren't a Christian nor am I challenging your faith in Christ or your sincerity. However, I believe this doctrine is dangerous and at its core is an offense to the Gospel. Please examine your view against the backdrop of Scripture.

C.I. Scofield

These past 40 years (though it began much further back) mark a mentality of retreat that has caused the Church to lose focus and has cost us the culture. The difficult times in which we live are, in my view, the result of a self-fulfilling prophecy. So a man thinks in his heart, so he shall become. If you expect defeat and are sold on escapism, then we should not be surprised by the results. If we want to take back the culture for Christ, we MUST shed "Leftbhindology." We will not work contrary to our eschatological expectations for very long. Why bother polishing brass on this fast sinking ship? That mentality has cost us a great deal.

The Land Promises to Israel - Fulfilled or Unfulfilled?

2011-09-25T20:19:00.000-04:00

Are today's inhabitants of Israel, God's chosen people? Is the land given to Israel by the U.N. in 1948, the eternal land of Abraham's descendants? In other words, is the land of Palestine, Israel's by divine decree? Does the modern day nation of Israel have a prominent place in God's "last days" eschatological plan? Join Don K. Preston as he attempts to deal with these very pertinent issues? You may be rather surprised by the answers.

Global Voice of Non-Violence

2011-09-20T15:18:00.002-04:00

As I contemplated notifying you of the following event, a very strange and rather unsettling thought hit me. Peace and non-violence are most often associated with hippies and leftist wimps and rarely the overriding themes employed by Christians. It's not only acceptable but it's downright lauded that we squash the commies and destroy all those who oppose us. No, I don't want to come across too cynically, but I do believe we need to change the way we engage others who don't share our views.

At any rate, please consider attending the online September 21st "Global Voices of Non-Violence" teleconference, which seeks peace in the Middle East. Some of you have seen the documentary "Little Town of Bethlehem" which will be featured during this teleconference. For those who haven't, I highly recommend it. It's the wonderful story of reconciliation between Christians, Arabs and Jews as they join the forces of peace.

Matthew 5:9 (NASB) "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

Isaiah 9:6 (NASB) For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NASB) Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

I realize that earthly peace is not the ultimate answer, since man's problem is spiritual enmity and separation from God. However, in my view, earthly peace should be a byproduct of our eternal peace, which is born of faith in Jesus Christ through reconciliation with God.

At this time, sadly, the majority of Christ's earthly body (the Church) does not appear to be spreading a message of non-violence. Why? Because they believe (as did I not too many years ago) that future violence and massive death tolls will be the result of the inevitable and imminent plan of God, culminating in the final battle of Armageddon.

Therefore, this peaceful effort will forever spin it's wheels unless and until the widely held eschatological presuppositions of our day are challenged. And I believe this eschatological paradigm must be defeated because I do not find it particularly Scriptural. Matter of fact, I think it is an unwitting assault on the Gospel and the integrity of God's Word.

Until the tail end of 2005, I lacked the historical context necessary to more fully understand Scripture at this very crucial point. I don't mean that to sound arrogant, but I do count it a great blessing to have providentially stumbled upon a view that I believe more majestically affords Scripture it's most inspired status.

So, it should not go without saying that, if this imminent horrific Battle of Armageddon (where 2/3 of the Jews are to die) has been ordained by God, then the efforts of organizations like Global Voices of Non-Violence will fall upon deaf ears in the wake of God's sovereign plan. But what happens if this view of Scripture is wrong?

In that light, let me share a brief history to help flesh out the historical context of this great battle, most presume to be in our future.

In AD 66, Cestius Gallus marched into Judea and surrounded Jerusalem in an attempt to restore calm at the outset of the Great Jewish Revolt. (I have hyper-linked these resources for your further study. Also, please consider "audience relevance"... to whom is the "you" with which Jesus is referring? Us? No, it's His disciples 1,980 years ago)

Luke 21:20 (NASB) "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near."

Gallus succeeded in conquering Beit She'arim "the new city" also called Bezetha, in the Jezreel Valley, seat of the Great Sanhedrin (Jewish supreme religious court) at the time, but was unable to take The Temple Mount. During his withdrawal to the coast, his army was ambushed near Beth Horon, and only succeeded in making good his escape to Antioch by sacrificing the greater part of his army and a large amount of war materiel.

It has well been documented that after this unexplained pullback, Christians who had been watchful of the signs (Matthew 24), fled Jerusalem in mass to the city of Pella. (notice the location of Pella on the map) They were specifically warned NOT to seek safe haven in the heavily fortified city of Jerusalem (which one would have presumed to be safest place), but instead to flee to the mountains. And that's exactly what they did!

Luke 21:21-22 (NASB) "Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; 22 because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.

Soon after his return, Gallus died (before the spring of 67), and was succeeded in the governorship by Licinius Mucianus. Emperor Nero appointed General Vespasian, to crush the rebellion. In the spring of AD 67, General Titus, the son of soon to be Emperor Vespasian (after Nero committed suicide), amassed a multi-national armed force of 60,000 (the 15th legion) on the plain of Megido. The siege against Jerusalem, prophesied by Jesus less than a generation earlier, culminated in the utter destruction of the Temple in the fall of AD 70 (exactly 3.5 years as had been predicted in the Revelation), as not one stone was left upon another.

Matthew 24:2 (NASB) And He said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down."

So, contrary to popular belief, and consistent with the beliefs of many prior to the mid 1800s, I believe this great battle is not in our future. Hopefully you can see why this matters so much. If this event is in our past (the first verse of the Revelation reads, "things which MUST soon take place"), then that will change our entire outlook on the victorious nature of the Gospel. We must, in my view, become ministers of reconciliation both spiritually and physically.

Join us for the Global Voices of Nonviolence LIVE launch event on Beliefnet.com.

When: Wednesday, September 21, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Where: Washington D.C., streamed LIVE on Beliefnet.com from the campus of The Catholic University of America
What: The online premiere of the award-winning film Little Town of Bethlehem followed by a live panel discussion

Learn more about Global Voices of Nonviolence

If you can't attend the event, the film and a recording of the panel discussion will be available on Beliefnet.com through Oct. 2.

Little Town of Bethlehem has been screened in nine countries at hundreds of colleges, universities, places of worship, and other venues. Help us keep the dialogue alive. Thank you!

"Little Town of Bethlehem draws us to the "other," the "neighbor" whom we have been called to love. Real people, claiming the moral high ground, give this movie its credibility and lasting relevance."

Robert Seiple
Author, Speaker
Former World Vision U.S. President

Lightshine Online with Pastor Frank Speer

2011-09-19T12:20:00.000-04:00

Beginning Wednesday, September 21st, Pastor Frank Speer will begin teaching a weekly teaching series through the Bible. Starting at Genesis 1:1...In the beginning.

Each week on Wednesday evenings at 4 P.M. Pacific/7 P.M. Eastern, we will be presenting this high quality video broadcast for your viewing pleasure and edification. Pastor Frank will also be producing a 5 minute daily devotional edition of "LightShine," as well.

High quality DVD copies of his through the Bible series will also be made available for your small group or study to watch.

LightShine Online with Pastor Frank Speer - Matthew 5 from michael j loomis on Vimeo.

Above is a sample teaching from Matthew Chapter 5. Let us know what you think in the comment section below.

*Quick Note: As many of you are aware, Pastor Frank was recently released from his position as senior pastor of his church because of his shift from futurism to preterism. As a result his current financial situation is dim to say the least. Frank is looking for a job...But in the meantime if you would like to help him and his family until they get back on their feet, simply email me at michael@ad70.net. I'd be more than happy to point you in the right direction. Read Frank's testimony here.

Seffner Armwood Football ranked #1 nationally

2011-08-30T10:59:00.002-04:00

Wow, this is pretty impressive. I realize it's a mythical ranking since there's no way to adequately evaluate the talent of high schools that have so little cross pollination, but for Armwood (Seffner, FL) to have achieved this grand status, is pretty dadgum amazing. Now, let's hope they remain hungry and humble and aren't overcome by their own pride.

Baseball Dreams Cut Short for Disaster Victims

2011-07-18T13:55:00.003-04:00

For high school baseball players from Rikuzentakata, Japan, the dream to play in the Koushien national baseball tournament came to an end. But win or lose, the game helped to bring together a community still reeling from the March 11 tsunami.
______________

This is truly sad. The anguish can be so clearly felt by their cries after the loss. Just a game? Perhaps, but with it was a way to cope. These boys were playing for a whole lot more than personal pride.

Hopefully, with Japan winning the women's World Cup Soccer Tournament, that will provide a modicum of healing for this devastated nation.

Things may not be as they appear...

2011-07-16T11:56:00.014-04:00

Following is an interview of Yonatan Sapira, a former Captain in the Israeli Air Force. I am truly invigorated by this man's conviction and his willingness to subject himself to scorn as he follows his heart. And contrary to the way he has been characterized, it's rather obvious that a deep love of his country and his Jewish heritage has motivated his quest for peace through non-violence. Yonatan appeared in a recent documentary, "Little Town of Bethlehem", with two fellow activists, one Christian and one Muslim, all three hailing from the same city of Bethlehem. Their common goal? Peace!

Yonatan is living proof that as a Jew he can love Israel and his people but yet strongly disagree with some of his government's actions and policies. In my view, as one coming from the "religious right" perspective, we have been cornered by a false dilemma: Either love Israel and ALL of its policies, or love the terrorists and their despicable acts against the innocent. As a Christian I simply cannot justify terrorism whether state-sponsored or sanctioned by a militant group like Hamas. The cycle of violence must stop.

Yonatan Sapira in his Israeli Air Force flight suit

That being said, if we don't seek to understand what might motivate a person to strap explosives to their body with the intent to inflict maximum damage on innocents, I don't think we are being intellectually honest. Which is worse, a terrorist act that kills 9 innocent children or a Israeli Air Force rocket assault on the home of an alleged terrorist also killing 9 innocent children? Oh, but some may say, "The government has the right to self defense and in so doing if children die, that's unfortunate collateral damage." Really? What if the terrorist is also reacting to the tyrannical aggression of the Israeli government and feels totally justified to act on behalf of those who are oppressed?

By caging a million and a half people like animals (Gaza) and separating them from vital resources, is causing severe reactions. And by Israeli's settling on land that is not their own is also soliciting acts of aggression. How would you or I react if our neighbor illegally began to anex our property and expanded his home onto our land?

So simply because I can't possibly condone the Palestinians firing missiles into Israel, does not mean that I shouldn't seek to understand the underlying motivations of the combatinants. Perhaps their cause is just though their methods of retribution are abhorrent?

Is the U.S. supporting the Israeli government's policies that are helping foment this kind of violence? Please listen carefully to Yonatan's plea. He is not a terrorist sympathizer, but neither does he side with the dehumanizing policies set forth by his own government. Lastly, please pray that Yonatan will come to know the true Prince of Peace.

The ESPYs: 2011 Arthur Ashe Award - Dewey Bozella

2011-07-14T18:17:00.002-04:00

What a heartwarming story.

Former Israeli Air Force pilot describes why we joined the Gaza Aid Flotilla

2011-07-01T11:59:00.007-04:00

I constantly receive articles, emails and videos extolling the virtues of Israel while impugning the legitimacy of any and all facts to the contrary. Be that as it may, I think we need to at least attempt to separate the political reality from what I believe are false Biblical assumptions. We ought to make a distinction between the modern day nation of Israel from the Israel of the Bible. Only then, once one makes this necessary differentiation, will we be free to make rational political judgments.

Within the Christian community, it always seems to devolve into an either/or ultimatum. Either we unequivocally and unabatedly support Israel, OR we aid and abet the Muslim terrorists who want to drive them into the sea. This is nothing but propaganda employed to keep us from making critically informed judgments and it is NOT the only option. This is a false dilemma. I believe it's imperative that we throw off the yoke of bias and bigotry and make sound judgments based upon Biblical principles.

Was Jesus not the Prince of Peace? Did Jesus not say, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God"? So why do we insist on taking sides? Contrary to what we are constantly told in mainstream evangelicalism, both sides are at fault. And unless we remove the beam from our own eye, we will never see the problem and therefore will never work toward a solution.

Unless we divest ourselves from what I believe are unfounded biases from a skewed view of Scripture, we will never fully comprehend the complexity of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, nor appreciate the potential for a peaceful coexistence. Ultimately, in my view, the ONLY lasting solution is Jesus Christ. But the way things stand right now, how is Jesus perceived by the Arab population? As their adversary solely because of ethnic origin. This myth must be dispelled because it is NOT Biblical. I attempted to address that HERE, so since that is not the full intent of this post, please consider my thoughts from what I believe is a sound Biblical perspective.

Let me quickly interject a documentary that is pertinent to this subject. If you have not see "Little Town of Bethlehem" I highly recommend it. The movie's goal is to foment peace within the embroiled Middle East and specifically Palestine. The movie traces the lives of 3 men, each born in Bethlehem and views the conflict through these very disparate lenses i.e.one Jew, one Arab and one Christian. These three have one common goal: A desire for peace through non-violence. And that brings me to the main reason for this post.

Below, you will find a video of Yonatan Shapira, a former Israeli pilot who decided to take the path of peace.Yonatan's connection to the above documentary? He's the Jewish man from Bethlehem. Had I not known Yonatan Shapira through the movie (http://www.egmfilms.org/films/little-town-of-bethlehem/), it's likely I would have believed the lies and the propaganda about his Flotilla effort. This man's father was a highly decorated fighter pilot in the Israeli army and he, along with Yonatan's brother also joined Yonaton's peace efforts.Watch the video and determine for yourself if this man is merely a propagandist being used by the anti-Israeli forces.

The path of peace takes a great deal more courage than that of war. As Christians should we not do everything in our power to foment peace, both individual and societal? God broke forever destroyed the wall of enmity between us and Him by the blood of our Savior. And Jesus asks that we extend that ministry of reconciliation to the world.

2011-06-21T23:28:00.001-04:00

Great song written by friend Tracy Mayle...

Fulfilled Bible prophecy

Heavens to Murgatroid! The Asteroids are coming!

2011-06-14T00:21:00.000-04:00

Given comments like those of Pat Robertson's below, is there any wonder why there's so much eschatologically-induced confusion and why there's currently an interpretational free-for-all within the Church? I don't mean to be overly harsh (well maybe just a bit austere), but I truly believe this stuff is destroying the credibility of the Bible. Couldn't this video have just as easily been produced by the Onion? Ugh. :) Can you believe I backed this man for president in the 80's? Don't answer that. LoL

Listen, I'm not questioning this man's commitment to Christ or his love for the Gospel, but I am truly appalled that, after a pitiful 40 year track record of errant prophetic speculations, we continue to give him a hearing. At what point will people say, "Enough is enough"? My roommates and I considered quitting college in '73 because of his warning that the end was near. It's truly a travesty that people perpetually condone the kind of hermeneutic that gives Robertson license to make these kinds of outrageous predictions.

Makes the video below more plausible every day. One of my all-time favorites! LoL

Coffee Table Extraordinaire!

2011-06-09T21:03:00.004-04:00

The TouchTable looks like a giant iPhone that marries satellite imagery with a plethora of data sources. TouchTable, Inc., the creators of this amazing device, have developed applications for intelligence gathering and law enforcement, but the sky's the limit for the consumer as well. So if you have $60k sitting around the house, looks like this one's got your name on it. :) These are amazing times!

Presuppositions & Assumptions

2011-06-03T13:51:00.016-04:00

Consider the following mind trick from David Copperfield. Can he read your thoughts?

(if you need to, click on the picture to enlarge it and then use the browser back button)

(click on the picture to make sure - click browser back to return)

I think this is a great lesson as we attempt to interpret the Bible. Though we may be unaware, we often don't approach Scripture with an open mind. And that's not so much an indictment as it is reality. Our minds are filled with presuppositions some of which may be untrue. Regarding such, in 1958, J.I. Packer wrote the following in "Fundamentalism and the Word of God":

We do not start our Christian lives by working out our faith for ourselves; it is mediated to us by Christian tradition, in the form of sermons, books and established patterns of church life and fellowship. We read our Bibles in the light of what we have learned from these sources; we approach Scripture with minds already formed by the mass of accepted opinions and viewpoints with which we have come into contact, in both the Church and the world. . . . It is easy to be unaware that it has happened; it is hard even to begin to realize how profoundly tradition in this sense has molded us. But we are forbidden to become enslaved to human tradition, either secular or Christian, whether it be "catholic" tradition, or "critical" tradition, or "ecumenical" tradition. We may never assume the complete rightness of our own established ways of thought and practice and excuse ourselves the duty of testing and reforming them by Scriptures. (Fundamentalism and the Word of God, by J.I. Packer. [Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1958.] pp. 69-70)

Isn't that profound? I try to remember to read this quote at least once a month since I consistently find myself in unwitting violation. It's nearly impossible to approach the Scripture without bias, so the best we can do is recognize it when it exists and pray that the Holy Spirit will allow us to overcome it.

Following is a case in point. A friend forwarded my recent blog post, "Pray for Israel..." to his pastor, and among being called a cult leader and other reprehensible ad homs, this pastor wrote:

"As for the Jews, you align yourself with Hiltler, Stalin, and the entire Muslim world today, and I guess you feel very ecuminical in that; but I can tell by yuor slant who you read after now. It surely is not the Bible. Since Revelation tells us that all of it will be done shortly (Rev 1.1), and ends by saying all of these things will happen shortly; all of Revelation has been fulfilled to you. Do you really believe that?"

For my purposes here I won't focus on the inflammatory stuff. It speaks for itself. However, I would like to call attention to his comments regarding the Revelation. Is it possible that he's succumbing to the rudiments that make Copperfield's trick seem truly amazing? The pastor referred to the following verses:

Revelation 1:1 (NKJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,

Revelation 1:3 (NKJV) Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation 22:6-7 (NKJV) ⁶ Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. ⁷ "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

Revelation 22:10 (NKJV) And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.

Revelation 22:12 (NKJV) "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
Revelation 22:20 (NKJV) He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Now, let me ask a question? If you picked up the Bible for the first time and read the these verses from the Revelation with no preconceived ideas (as Packer suggests), when would you believe the time of the Revelation was to be fulfilled? Do "MUST SHORTLY take place...for the time is NEAR", seem like references to a 2,000 year period? By the pastor asking rather mockingly, "Do you really believe that", it's apparent that he doesn't believe that Jesus spoke truthfully through the angel. And I find that quite alarming and sad. Does this not strike at the heart of Biblical inspiration and at the deity of Christ? Remember, in the Revelation Jesus was no longer speaking as a man as He was when He prophesied that His coming would be within a generation (Matthew 24:34). This time, approx 36 years after his "this generation" proclamation, He's speaking from a position of exaltation at the right hand of the Father. At that point, Jesus clearly knew not only that the "time was near" but He was then also privy to the exact day and hour.

How far have we come where the ones reading the literal timing of things to come are the ones who are considered the cult leaders? When this fellow says, "It's surely not in the Bible," I have to wonder what Bible he's reading. Daniel was exhorted to "seal up the vision" because the things with which he was prophesying were "many days yet to come" (almost 600 to the time of Christ). Yet, the recipient of the Revelation was told, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy" because "THE TIME IS AT HAND."

I don't know how the contrast between Daniel and the Revelation could be any greater of an indictment upon the modern day prophecy experts who insist that the Revelation's prognostications are still future? How can we continue to say that we believe in Biblical inspiration and yet totally disregard the above time statements?

I realize treating these passages literally is not in vogue, but isn't it time to discard our presuppositions and let the Bible speak for itself? What's wrong with considering these matters with an open mind, not being ruled by assumptions that may be Biblically unwarranted?

In and of itself, properly interpreting Scripture is a very difficult task. So it seems imperative that we realize how easily we can be fooled. If you were initially amazed by the Copperfield "trick", it should stand as a lesson regarding presuppositions. You assumed, as I did, that all of the cards in the second set (minus the one we fixed our eyes upon) were different. We were tricked by an incorrect assumption.

And we have assumed, based upon years of sermons, books and conversations, that the Revelation MUST be entirely in our future, right? However, if it was written in the first century, that is simply not a possibility, unless Jesus was intentionally misleading John. And if that was the case, we have far more grievous issues to deal with than eschatology.

Do we have the faith to first believe Jesus and then concern ourselves with the "how can this be true", later?

Pray for Israel? - What about the Palestinians, the Sudanese or the Canadians?

2011-05-28T00:01:00.019-04:00

I received a short email (below) asking that we pray for Israel. Rather innocuous enough, right? Why not pray for the peace of a nation constantly embroiled in conflict, and opposed on all sides by the many who want to drive them into the sea? Clearly, there's great value in praying for peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace!

However, as I began to contemplate the root of this simple prayer, I was plagued with the following question. Why is it that we are consistently encouraged to single out this particular nation, often at the exclusion of other strife-laden lands? All sorts of war-torn and/or poverty stricken nations come to mind that need God's peace and grace. So what about the modern day nation of Israel deserves this kind of special attention? Does God still have a unique purpose for this tiny land now inhabited by a people whom many Christians still believe are living under a divine mandate?

The horrors of Aushwitz

And I must say, in the minds of many, even posing this line of questioning about Israel’s special place in this world immediately conjures up visions of anti-Semitism. So at the outset, let me be clear that I don’t have an anti-Semitic bone in my body. The Auschwitz death camps were a filthy stain on mankind’s sordid history and it disgusts me to hear some hate-filled souls try to deny that the savagery ever took place.

Having said that, I don't believe it's morally justified for those who have been so severely persecuted to vindicate themselves by committing atrocities on a similarly vulnerable people i.e. the indigenous Palestinians. The truth is that bigotry and ethnic cleansing should be abhored no matter who the perpetrator is. I believe it's racist to favor one people group over others regardless of the group's composition.

Let me be clear at this point. I love the Israelis. I visited Israel in 2000 and found the people to be quite industrious and engaging. But to be quite frank, I also love the Arabs, the Brits and my postal carrier. Aren't Christians supposed to love ALL people without prejudice?

So please, before you castigate me with racially-charged rhetoric and mischaracterize my probing, consider what "pray for Israel" implies. I have found the constant cry of anti-Semitism to be a faulty but rather effective defense mechanism shielding this necessary discussion from objective conversation while summarily insulating Israel from even the slightest bit of criticism.

So, don't you think it's at least reasonable to ask if the New Covenant, in fact, sanctions the exaltation of one nation, Israel, above all other nations? In other words, is God partial to those of one genetic predisposition over those of another fleshly lineage? Some might answer that question affirmatively, but I believe they would be ignoring the bulk of the New Testament writings. I'll deal with this matter Biblically in a moment.

As I further contemplated this whole notion, it dawned on me that I hadn't received similar prayer requests for the plight of other nations. Darfur and Sudan immediately come to mind. So, since the majority of Israel’s citizenry blatantly rejects Jesus Christ, why specifically should we pray for this secular nation? Yes, of course I believe we should pray for the salvation and peaceful estate of everyone who resides within its borders, especially since unrest has become a way of life. And surely we should abhor all violence and decry acts of barbarism. However, that's really not the intent of my question. I'm speaking strictly of the special treatment afforded one nation, Israel.

So, if we're going to give Israel a special dispensation, I think it's apropos to at least ask who it is that lives within its borders. Are they God-fearing? Is this a nation patterned after Old Covenant Rabbinic Judaism? Is there a continuity of land ownership since the time of Christ and before? Does modern day Israel bear even the slightest resemblance to the people who inherited the Promised Land 1,500 years before Christ? Unfortunately the answer to each is a resounding NO. The vast majority of Israelites are secular but those who are devout hate Jesus Christ. In "Christians in Israel an Endangered Species" was written the following:

The Jewish Encyclopedia tells us He was a bastard—“for polemical purposes, it was necessary for the Jews to insist on the illegitimacy of Jesus, as against the Davidic descent claimed by the Christian church.” His mother, “…Mary…was known to be an adulteress.” ² Concerning “Miriam,” or “Mary,” the Talmud in Sanhedrin 106b says: “… “She who was the descendant of princes and governors played the harlot with carpenters.’…’”

Israel is a completely secularized society with little interest in Yahweh and an outright aversion of Jesus Christ. So why do some expect God to bless those who bless Israel (Gen 12:3), if they reject and abhor "The Way, the Truth and the Life"?

If Jesus was enamored with sacred bloodlines, why then did He tell Nicodemus, a devout Jew, that must be "born again"? (John 3:3) or he "cannot see the Kingdom of God." And why did John the Baptist tell the Jewish religious elite that God could manufacture children of Abraham out of stones? (Matt 3:9) This passage doesn't speak about the restoration or regathering of the Jews according to the flesh. Quite the contrary. John foretells of the wrath that was "about to come" upon this wicked and adulterous generation. So in the New Covenant, if to God, ethnic origin is of no consequence, what therefore is the allure of favoring modern day Israel?

Talmudic Judaism is vehemently opposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At this point it should be noted that the "Anti-Missionary" law conspicuously passed during Christmas week on December 27, 1977. Although it remains legal in Israel for a Christian to talk with an Israeli about Christ, it is a crime punishable by up to 5 years in prison to attempt to convert an Israeli to Christianity by use of any material inducement. If a Christian gives even a gospel leaflet to an Israeli, he violates this law. Also, if the Israeli converts to Christianity after receiving the leaflet he himself could face 3 years in prison.

So the question remains. Should a nation which enacts such laws, be considered a brother in the New Covenant simply because they share thousands of years of pre-Christ heritage?

Once again let me ask why should we not also specifically pray for nations other than Israel such as South Korea, which are experiencing major revival and are also sandwiched by evil on all sides? Has anyone ever suggested that we pray for South Korea? I don't mean to sound obtuse, but why do we constantly sanctify the modern nation of Israel as though they are the apple of God's eye?

The truth is that they are just like every other godless nation that needs Jesus Christ. According to Scripture, they no longer enjoy any privileged status nor do they maintain any divine right to the land in which they currently reside. And if you think they do, please watch the video below. Are you aware that there's not one New Testament verse that speaks of a Holy Land. Quite the contrary. Jesus, when he was speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well made it clear that physical locale was being rendered totally insignificant. This is powerful and it must not be missed.

John 4:21-24 (NKJV) ²¹ Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. ²² You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. ²³ But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Did you catch that? Neither on Mount Gerizim or in JERUSALEM! Why? Because the worship of God was no longer going to be confined to temples made by human hands.

On May 14, 1948, those who identified themselves as Jews were given the land by U.N. mandate. But, regarding that piece of real estate, there's a dirty little secret that no one seems to talk about. There were people living in the land at the time. And a whole lot of them. It wasn't just barren dessert as it has been portrayed. Yet, how many times have you heard it said, "A people without a land, and a land without a people"? The implication? The land was vacant. That's simply not true. Do you realize how important it is to recognize that fact?

During the past 63 years, it's an understatement to say that those Arab and Christian inhabitants of the land of Palestine have been severely persecuted. In the process of the "regathering", close to a million Palestinian refugees have been created. Many were killed. Villages were bulldozed to the ground. Land was confiscated, and illegal Jewish settlements have continued construction on land acquired through war. You simply cannot imagine the horror.

All of this is detailed in one of the best books I have ever read, Elias Chacour's Blood Brothers. (You cannot read this book without it severely altering your paradigm). Please know that although Elias Chacour (a very young Palestinian Christian when his father's land was stolen in 1948) is not a bitter man. And he isn't seeking retribution nor is he motivated by revenge. He simply desires to foment peace. And interestingly enough, this man was voted Israeli man of the year in 2002.

So is there any surprise that the indigenousness Palestinian people who resided in the land prior to the tanks rolling in, in 1948, might not appreciate the outright confiscation of their land. Should there be any wonder why their constantly degrading socio-economic circumstances might cause some of them to lash out in barbaric ways? Does any reaction warrant suicide bombings or other forms of terrorism? Of course not, but have you ever considered what might motivate a person to do such an evil thing? If you put a boot on a man's throat and hold him down for a prolonged period of time, would it later surprise you if he reacted?

On the surface, "Pray for Israel" seems rather innocuous enough. Surely Christians ought to care about peace. But have you ever wondered what kind of a message this sends to the billion or so Arabs that surround them? Were the Arabs born on the wrong side of the tracks? Are they doomed simply because they have the wrong genetic predisposition? When was the last time someone said, "Pray for Iran" or "Pray for Syria"? I believe the underlying and insidious message we're sending to the rest of the world (especially the Arab world) is one of favoritism based solely upon a what I believe is a misperceived birthright. So let me ask again. Where we get this precedent of singling out Israel?

Did you now that there is no Jewish race? In "Who Are the Modern Jews", Scott Stinson quotes none other than the Jewish Encyclopedia for that answer. It states, ""The question whether the Jews of today are in the main descended from the Jews of Bible times, and from them alone, is still undecided". I found this to be a rather startling admission from a source that can hardly be accused of anti-Semitism. The Jewish Encyclopedia further explains. "Some anthropologist are inclined to associate the racial origins of the Jews, not with the Semites, whose language they adopted, but with the Armenians and Hittites of Mesopotamia, whose broad skulls and curved noses they appear to have inherited" (Jew. Enc. X (1905), 284).

Contrary to the opinions of many Christians, I believe these things have been clearly documented. Blasphemy, you say? (Let it be said that this is NOT intended as an indictment to those who currently reside in modern day Israel. I am simply attempting to establish the fact that few Jews living in Israel are In Israel are of Abrahamic lineage. Not since the AD 70 Diaspora when 1.1 million Jews died in the wake of the Roman siege, was national Israel vital. And those who survived this first century holocaust (according to Jesus brought about by their rejection of HIM) were assimilated into the surrounding cultures/nations.

Today, there are no priests. There is no temple and God will never allow it to be rebuilt since it would stand as an abomination to Jesus' once-for-all perfect sacrifice. (Heb 9:11-28) And there are no genealogical records documenting racial origin. For good reason, they were forever destroyed in the war. Everything was summarily destroyed by God as He avenged the murder of His Son (Matthew 23:36; Matthew 22:6-7). And from the cross forward, the only true children of Abraham are those born of faith in Jesus Christ. (Gal 3:6-9; Rom 9:6-8) It has nothing whatsoever to do with bloodline.

The ax was at the root of Israel's tree in AD 27 (Matthew 3:7-12) and it was about to be cut down and thrown into the unquenchable fire, never to rise again. Jesus Christ is THE Israel of God. He is THE seed of Abraham (Gal 3:16). Only those born from above (John 1:12) are "In Christ" and therefore children of Abraham according to promise (Gal 3:29). The gates of the Kingdom have been opened wide for people of all cultures and nationalities. There is neither Jew nor Greek in the New Covenant (Gal 3:28). The dividing wall of separation has been forever demolished.

Ephesians 2:14-17 (NASB) 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away , and peace to those who were near;

I hate terrorism, and there should be no doubt in any Christian's mind that Islam is a religion that opposes Jesus Christ. But so does Talmudic Judaism! They, Israeli and Arab, both need Christ, so why pray specifically and single-mindedly for the peace of Israel (at the exclusion of the Arab population) when the Israelis are oppressing a people (the Palestinians) who live within their borders? Why are Christians not encouraged to pray for the peace and safety of the heavily persecuted Palestinian Christians? This is a sad mystery.

In the end, this obsession with Israel has become very disconcerting. Many people become so emotionally charged that reason is kicked to the curb. Why not pray for the peace of the whole world? Why not pray for a race-blind world where the Gospel is free to proliferate without ethnically imposed restrictions? Once we remove the racial barriers sequestering the Gospel from the entire Arab world, who knows what may happen. The way to defeat Islam is not to nuke their countries but to convert its adherents. But unfortunately, under the current climate, the Muslims won't hear the message of Christ because a Biblically sanctioned bigotry drones the Gospel's clarity. Although the only path to peace is through Jesus Christ, the only way to Christ is through an unobstructed message.

I believe a pervading ignorance of that which took place pre-1948, fuels a misdirected blame for the current Middle East circumstances. I abhor all violence, but to ignore the atrocities committed against the indigenous Palestinian population, at least 10% of whom were Christians, is to fight a battle blind-folded.

I recently watched a video of a Jewish Rabbi who was filled with aspirations of peace. As he was decrying violence he made a rather poignant statement. Basically he asked, "How can we who know the severity of suffering (referring to the holocaust) if we don't recognize the suffering of others? We, above all, he said, ought to be the most cognizant of oppression and abuse. They cannot right the wrong of the Holocaust by doing the same to others.

In closing, let me make it clear that I believe in Israel's right to self-determination and self defense regardless of the past. However, not at the expense of innocent people. Because, in the process, the rage emanating from the innocent (63 years of oppression), foments the cycle of violence while radicalizing a whole new generation. And the beat goes on. I believe we must acknowledge the past before we can move forward.

If you still feel compelled to pray for Israel, please also pray for Palestinian people. No, that doesn't mean we are under obligation to condone the actions of Hamas or Hezbollah or side with those who desire to drive Israel into the sea. It simply means that we are champions of those who cannot speak for themselves. It means that we are peacemakers and it means that we love Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:9 (NKJV) Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

The solutions to these very serious and vexing problems are solidly within our grasp. The Prince of Peace, through His redemptive blood, can and will one day tear down the walls that separate us. The answers are within the bounds of Scripture. In the New Covenant, race should NEVER be a motivating factor. The dividing wall of separation has been eternally torn down. So in the future, let's pray for the peace of ALL, knowing that ONLY the Gospel can bring both vertical (between God & us) and horizontal (between each of us) peace.

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Forwarded message:

CHUCK,

PRAY FOR ISRAEL. OUR PRESIDENT HAS THROWN THEM UNDER THE BUS. GOD IS STLL IN CONTROL

GOD BLESS

______________________

As an addendum, if anyone would like to more fully understand the Palestinian / Israeli conflict from a Biblical perspective, I highly recommend the following books, DVD's and websites:

Stephen Sizer's Website

Stephen's Video site

Stephen's Blog (Stephen is a wonderful human being)
Christian Zionism on the Road to Armageddon
With God on Our Side

Little Town of Bethlehem

The World is Coming to an End, Again!

2011-05-26T00:47:00.009-04:00

The Rapture's Back On! Should I sell my home?

Commentary: Doomsday is Oct. 21, so get your finances in order By Brett Arends

BOSTON (MarketWatch) — The world is coming to an end. Again.

Harold E. Camping, the radio “Rapture” guy out in California, has told his followers that the world will end — or, at least, that all the Chosen Ones will get raised up to Heaven — on Oct. 21. (Camping gave this update after Saturday’s big letdown, his second.)

I know what you’re thinking: “What does this mean for my personal finances?” Well, here at MarketWatch we’ve always got your back. So if you’re getting ready for the Rapture, here are my 10 personal-finance tips....

(Continue HERE For the rest of the article and short video of Camping - it's kind of a playful "what if"...)

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Apparently, according to Camping, he wasn't actually wrong. Surprised? No, I wasn’t either. Who’d admit that kind of blunder when some of his followers spent their life’s saving on signs, tee-shirt, pamphlets and touring caravans? Camping says that It just didn't happen the way he expected. Hmm. :) Maybe he's on to something.

The truth is that although I don't know anyone who took Camping seriously, this "any moment rapture", popularized by Hal Lindsey and more recently, Tim LaHaye, has conditioned the soil for a whole crop of similar predictions. We all know Jesus said that "no man knows the day or the hour", but was that the extent of Camping's error? Is that really what makes Camping's eschatological proclivities so egregious? In terms of overall impact, what's the big difference between saying something been imminent for 2,000 years or picking an actual day? At least Camping put his money where his mouth was. I believe the majority of Christendom’s “end is near” drone, has had a much more chilling effect on so many levels than this Camping fiasco.

I've been hearing this "any moment" rapture since the 1973 Middle East crisis (oil embargo) when I was a wild-eyed 19 year old kid. My roommates & I contemplated quitting college and heading for the hills because Pat Robertson had convinced us the end was near. After all, what good would a B.A. in Criminal Justice do in a heaven packed with a bunch of perfect people? LoL

In 1982, when Debbie was pregnant with Matthew, she & I were warned by a well-intentioned soul quoting the following passage, that this was NOT the best time to bring a child into a world that in the throws of its end. (Can you say, understatement :). Matthew 24:19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! If I’d only understood and applied the concept of “audience relevance”, I would have known that Jesus was talking to Matthew the tax-collector, not Matthew, my soon to be slick-fielding son. LoL And consider the irony. Christy, my second child who was yet to be born, now has her own child! How long will it be before some other zealous person quotes the above Scripture to her?

On September 12, 1988, Debbie and I were tooling around the Gulf on the cruise ship Titanic…no actually it was the Veracruz but it felt like the Titanic, as one of the largest hurricanes (Gilbert) in history, was bearing down on our destination, Cozumel, while we were bopping around like a cork in 20 foot seas. You ask what’s the significance of that date? It was the middle day of the three days Edgar Whisenant (88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988) predicted the rapture was guaranteed to happen. "Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong; and I say that to every preacher in town. "[I]f there were a king in this country and I could gamble with my life, I would stake my life on Rosh Hashana 88." He came back in '89 (Edgar that is…not Jesus LoL) with the same brazen guarantees and then wasn’t heard from again. Well, not publicly, that is. Perhaps he staked his life on it... :)

Then it was the year 2,000. That reminds me, I still have 50 gallons of water from that one. I suppose it’s a mite stale. Then it was 2004. Then May of 2011 and now October 2011. The next great wave will be in 2012 culminating in the Mayan calendar’s terminal date. As certain as Edgar was, I am as well, that these and many more years of predictions will all come and go while more and more Christian become disillusioned with the Bible.

Well, Matthew is now almost 29, I'm 56 (ugh!) and I continue to hear the same ole warn-out refrain. “If the Lord tarries just a little longer I’ll do (fill in the blank)”. It's always perpetually "soon". Nice redundancy, eh? :) And this, in my view, is the crux of the problem. It’s a broken record. It’s Chicken Little. Every time there's a school shooting, a rash of tornadoes, an earthquake, a kidnapping, an economic collapse, an oil spill, unrest in the Middle East, or basically anything negative, what do people say? "It's a sign of the times." To be quite frank, it’s a sign of EVERY time in recorded history. This stuff has been going on since the fall. It's as if people have no comprehension of history. As Yogi Berra would say, "It’s Deja vu all over again." :)

The modern Church has become myopic and egocentric. Every day I am simply amazed as I hear so many Christians say how bad things are. Hey, if someone’s out work or they have terminal cancer, things really are bad. But in the grand scheme are things really as bad as we say they are? In the past 200 years, consider the following varied events to add perspective. And remember, the population in 1804 (1 billion) was 7 times less than it is now (7 billion):

1775-1783 - The Revolutionary War (6,000 dead)

1815 - Indonesia’s Mt. Tambora volcanic eruption (92,000 dead)

1839 - India cyclone (300,000 dead)

1850-1950 - The third Pandemic of the Black Plaugue (12,000,000 dead)

1861-1865 - The Civil War (700,000 dead)

1887 - Yellow River Flood (2,000,000 dead)

1900-1980 – Smallpox (300,000,000 dead)

1907 - Chinese Famine (24,000,000 dead)

1918 - WW1 & the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 (65,000,000 dead)

1920 - Haiyuan (China) earthquake (235,000 dead)

1937-1945 – WW2 (72,000,000 dead)

1941-1945 – Genocide (11,000,000 dead)

1960 - Chilean 9.5 earthquake (1,655 dead)

The fulfillment of Bible prophecy is always about us, in our generation…or so people think. This egocentricity is really causing serious interpretative issues. And I believe the blame falls on our flight from sound hermeneutics (science of interpretation) gleaned from the reformation. Once time relevance, audience relevance, context, and the analogy of faith (interpreting the unclear from the unclear) are discarded, interpreting the Bible becomes a free-for-all, and private interpretations abound. Case in point: In the first verse of the Revelation it says, “things which MUST SHORTLY take place.” So one person says, “shortly is a relative term" and off to the races they go. So, 2,000 years later, the Revelation is supposedly still in our future. What about "MUST SHORTLY take place don't we understand? There’s no wonder confusion abounds.

After the massive earthquake and the ensuing tsunami that devastated Japan, I was talking with two gentlemen at the place I work-out. One guy said, as the other was nodding his head, “This is just the beginning, so get ready. You ain't seen nothing yet." No, maybe I haven't since most of the really horrific stuff happened well before I was born, but I've heard these dire warnings for my entire 38 year Christian life. And the truth is, the Bible doesn't say anything about an increase in seismic activity, school shootings, economic woes or anything regarding an up-tick in natural disasters. But sadly, that doesn’t really seem to matter because we believe we’re living in the last days of history and things have got to be getting really bad. Our expectations tell us such, and we use to newspaper to confirm it. It’s the never-ending self-fulfilling story. But it’s not a true story and the facts simply don’t bear out these supposedly worsening times. It’s all relative when our myopathy restricts our view of the the past 40 years.

So, yeah, I agree, Camping's out of control, but so is this "any day now" rapture. It's eating our lunch and sapping our resolve. Christians are becoming the butt of all the late night talk show jokes and overall, the Bible's credibility is being severely compromised. I know it won’t be popular and you might get run out of a Bible study for even asking the question, but don’t ya think it's high time we begin to look at the eschatological underpinnings that foster this kind of stuff? Something being imminent for 2,000 years is, well…the only words that come to mind are condescending. :(

Where in the New Testament do we find an admonition to rebuild the Temple (what an abomination), a regathering of the Jews into the Holy Land or a prediction that Israel would once again become a nation? Actually, the only Temple mentioned was one that was to be destroyed (and it was in AD70 exactly 40 years [a generation] after it was predicted ); And the only prediction regarding fleshly Israel, was its impending demise for murdering their Messiah (and it happened as God brought the Roman-led multi-national army to destroy Jerusalem during the spring of AD 66 to the fall of AD 70 – times, time and half a time – 3 ½ years).

I sure hope we get back on track to a sound interpretation of Scripture. I don't know about you, but I’m tired of this 40 year wilderness wandering. Don’t get me wrong, manna’s okay with a dab of ketchup, but it ain’t no Outback cheese fries or succulent shrimp from the Bonefish Grill. :)

Israeli - Palestinian Conflict

2011-05-21T15:14:00.003-04:00

I believe there is a great deal of confusion regarding the Palestinian / Israeli conflict. Considering the president's most recent speech calling for a return to the 1967 borders, I think the following video, forwarded by 3 New Hampshire Governor and former White House Chief of Staff, John Sinunu, might introduce a degree of objectivity. If we can't get past our emotional reactions which may be based upon faulty preconceptions, peace will stand little chance of prevailing.

Understandably, because of a shared 1st Testament, most Christians are in solidarity with Israel and assume that the majority of fault should be laid at the feet of radical organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as the neighboring Arab countries. But, it may not be as cut and dry as most perceive. This is an incredibly complex issue with no tidy solutions. As Christians, I think it is imperative that we do whatever we can to foment peace. From my vantage point, that is not happening.

American Atheists Planning Rapture Party!

2011-05-14T12:24:00.012-04:00

Do the atheists have a point when they refer to the "any day now" rapture as nonsense? Are you able to answer their claims? I have found that most cannot. The American Atheist Association is planning rapture parties for "heathens and skeptics" in a broadside attempt to garner new converts while mocking Christianity.

Watch the following video to learn how to successfully rebut their claims. Inspired Scripture is hanging in the balance. We most definitely DO have an answer. :)

(For full-screen click the 4 arrows in the toolbar - "esc" key to revert)

Consider attending American Vision's National Prophecy Conference, June 1-4, 2011 in Ridgecrest, NC, to learn how to effectively interpret Bible prophecy.

For a more in-depth look into these matters watch the following:

Whatever Happened to the Gospel?

2011-03-26T11:37:00.011-04:00

By David Nicholas

The pastor was brilliant. The people were with him every step of the way. Concluding the service he said, "I have good news for you today. Narzak paid for all your crimes. As we sing this last hymn, I invite you to come forward to receive Narzak into your heart. Let's all stand and sing."

The people stood, but they were more than confused. They wondered if they had heard correctly. Did the preacher really say, "Narzak paid for all your crimes?" Every person in the church was wondering, "Who is Narzak?" and "What crimes?"

Let's carry this scenario over into the typical church service, in which the pastor thinks he is preaching the gospel. Realize that when the unbeliever hears the phrase, "Jesus died for you and paid for all your sins," he is thinking, "Who is Jesus?" and "What sins?" Jesus has great name recognition, but I have discovered that many people who call themselves Christians have no idea who he is. And the typical unbeliever doesn't have a clue. The unbeliever may own up to some faults, but he doesn't think of himself as a sinner. He sees himself as basically a "good" person.

My quest to know what has happened to the Gospel began a few years ago when my wife and I visited various churches while on vacation. I noticed that the pastors of these churches—churches that would be considered biblical and evangelical—did not clearly explain the Bad News about ourselves and the Good News of what God has done for us through Christ. Yet in many of these churches, an invitation was given for people to come forward to "receive Jesus into their hearts." But because there was no explanation of who Jesus is, what he did and why he did it, the invitation came across to the unbeliever just like the statement, "Narzak paid for your crimes. Won't you believe in Narzak?"

Yes, salvation is of God, and the Holy Spirit must work in giving spiritual life to a person. And yes, he can do it any way he chooses. John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15), but this is not the norm. God's primary way of saving people is through the Gospel, because his power is in the Gospel (Romans 1:16). This is why the Gospel must be presented clearly. After all, if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle (1 Corinthians 14:8)? And if the problems of sin and death and what God has done to overcome them through Jesus Christ are not clearly set forth, who will understand their need and come to Jesus in faith?

I decided to see how pervasive this problem is. I asked LifeWay Research, the research arm of LifeWay Christian Resources, to conduct an independent survey of sermons from churches across the country—churches large and small, denominational and non-denominational—to see how often the Bad News and the Good News are being explained in a meaningful and understandable way. LifeWay Research conducted a survey of hundreds of sermons. The results are in, and Dr. Ed Stetzer with LifeWay Research called them "unsettling."

It seems that the overwhelming majority of pastors have assumed that the Gospel, as set forth by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, is Christianity 101 and that the people listening to their sermons already grasp the basic concepts of the Gospel.

"Now brothers, I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand on it. You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you—unless you believed to no purpose. For I passed on to you as most important what I also received:

that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (HCSB)

The LifeWay Research survey revealed that 94% of pastors are not preaching the Bad News (our sin and death problems and why good works don't work) and the Good News (what God has done through Christ to overcome our sin and death problems).

Most pastors do not mention the Bad News or the Good News in their sermons. But, sadder than this, most pastors do not know how to preach and explain the Bad News and Good News in a meaningful and understandable way. Is this important? Yes, if we are to take Jesus seriously, and if we have a desire to do what he commanded us to do. The Great Commission is at the heart of God's plan for this world, and at the heart of the Great Commission is making disciples by preaching the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8).

I was asked by the Church Planting Coordinator for my denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America, to lead an evangelism conference. I agreed and told the Coordinator that I wanted the pastors who signed up for the conference to bring two or three sermons with them. I would place the men in small groups and ask each man to explain his sermon to the men in his group and then demonstrate how he had incorporated the Bad News and Good News into his message.

At this point, the Coordinator said to me, "David, these are all seminary-trained, ordained PCA pastors. They all know how to do that." I said, "Humor me." He did, and after leading a small group at the conference the Coordinator e-mailed me these remarks:

"Well, David, I must say that you've made a believer out of me. Overall I think the Evangelism Convocation went very well, but the preaching exercises in our coaching clusters stood out as the most valuable aspect of the entire event. They confirmed exactly what you said they would, and I see now that one of the biggest reasons we don't have people coming to Christ in our churches, and why so many of our churches are lackluster and dying, is that the gospel simply isn't being preached! I was so struck by how the guys would use code words like "the gospel" and "grace" and "the work of Christ" in their messages, and yet never, NEVER flesh them out or lay out the gospel. I guess they assume they're doing it, but it just isn't there."

This man put his finger on the biggest problem in the church today. We have pastors who think they are preaching the gospel by using "Christianese" jargon; their congregants think they are hearing the gospel because the message contains familiar buzz words. Those on the inside are happy with what is going on, but unbelievers are not being reached, because the Bad News and the Good News are not clearly explained.

I recently received a call from a former member of Spanish River Church who had moved to Franklin, TN. He told me that he and his family had visited three churches in the area and heard more than a dozen sermons. Only once did one of the pastors get somewhat close to the gospel, but he still did not really explain it. There was no gospel in the other thirteen messages my friend heard. Yet invitations to receive Christ were given at each service! This man was amazed and wondered what was going on in the church.

I explained that many pastors think they are presenting the gospel, when in actuality they are not. They use "in-house" words and phrases that believers understand. It is like a child's special code that requires a "secret decoder ring" to decipher the message. Either pastors do not believe they have any unbelievers in their services, or they don't believe the gospel is God's power for the salvation of all who believe. Or perhaps they just do not realize they're not communicating clearly. Until our pastors commit to clearly presenting the Bad News and the Good News in plain, direct language, the unsaved man or woman will comprehend the message no more clearly than the tale of Narzak.

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Editor's Note: For an example of a clear gospel presentation, enjoy Dr. Nicholas' article,

"Preaching the Gospel the Way Bobbie Lee Learned to Drive".

In the summer of 1972, David led my entire family to the Lord. David, "Rev" to us, passed away in January of this year on the exact day of his conversion almost 5 decades earlier. I have never known a man with more passion for the Gospel than Dr. David Nicholas.

Through his ministry at Spanish River Church in Boca Raton, FL, he planted 243 churches throughout the globe. His memorial service was a day that I will never forget. His challenge to share "the good news and the bad new" will forever be indelibly marked in my minds-eye. Thank you Rev, for you are now enjoying the fruit of your labor. Sadly though, there's no one in Heaven to share the Gospel with. I wonder what Rev is doing now? Perhaps sitting with my Mom and Dad and reminiscing. :)

Will Rob one day answer the Bell? - How comprehensive is God's grace?

2011-03-25T20:49:00.000-04:00

As many are probably aware, cult figure (and I'm not using that word pejoratively but rather culturally), Rob Bell has recently proclaimed his affinity for the doctrine of Universal Atonement, also known as Comprehensive Grace & Universalism. To be fair, Bell, at the opening of his "Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever" book tour, Bell denied holding to the classical definition. However, in his rebuttal found HERE, in my opinion, he wasn't very convincing.

I found the above video of Doug Wilson rather interesting. He clearly delineated the issues that must be addressed i.e. the doctrines of Heaven, Hell, wrath and grace. Although I believe Bell's doctrinal proclivities are dangerous, the ensuing debate will prove to be healthy. I may have a warped perspective, but it seems to me that most Christians aren't equipped to deal with these kinds of theological issues.

Bell, in his Gen X style, has been asking some very poignant questions that strike at the heart of ecclesiastical tradition. So, in some regard I have found Bell to be a breath of fresh air. However, in this instance, I believe he's teetering on the precipice of heresy. And mind you, I don't use that "h" word flippantly, since it has been a label affixed to some of my views as well. Any time you deviate from the norm (orthodoxy), folks love to use labels because they aren't equipped to refute the arguments Scripturally. So it becomes far less taxing and proves ultimately successful, to use the common rule of engagement known as guilt by association. But I digress...

In this case, I think it is much to do about a WHOLE LOT. This strikes at the heart of the Gospel and obliterates God's wrathful nature. Heck, we all DESERVE Hell, so, it's not a question of fairness. It's a question of, what does the Bible teach? It's not my intent here to deal with this issue, but suffice it to say, I believe the Bible overwhelming affirms that those who don't trust the finished work of Christ by faith, will be forever separated from God and eternal life.

At any rate, this is a very important issue I hope many wrestle through not just emotionally but doctrinally. We must be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within us.

Bell's plea is in the video below.

Boston IS Back

2011-03-22T23:35:00.001-04:00

The Shape of Things to Come???

2011-03-22T00:26:00.004-04:00

Consider a local church's upcoming sermon series (below) to determine if eschatology matters. I believe we have a whole lot of work to do to stem the tidal wave of doom and gloom. The "Good News" of the gospel appears to have been so severely distorted, that it's victorious nature has been ripped from its moorings. Even though 2,000 years ago the apostles lived in the perilous times described by the sermons below, they spoke of the overcoming nature of their faith. I pray that people begin to wake up. This sermon series makes me weep. How has the church gotten so far off course?

Terrorists attacks. Food shortages. Political upheaval. Disintegrating morals. Surely we must be headed for earth’s final days. Is there any room for hope?

God’s Word answers: YES!

In these simple but profound Bible messages, Pastor Rummage identifies crucial truths every believer needs to understand about the end of time, and the difference those truths can make in our lives today. Join us for this exciting and encouraging prophecy series.

March 20, 2010 – Apostasy: The Corruption of the Church (1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-5)
March 27, 2010 – Rapture: The Next Date on God’s Blackberry (1 Corinthians 15:20-24; 35-50; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
April 3, 2010 – Antichrist: The Future World Ruler (Daniel 7)
April 10, 2010 – Tribulation: The Worst is Yet to Come (Matthew 24)
April 17, 2010 – Atonement: The Center of Time and Eternity (Romans 3:21-26) – PALM SUNDAY
April 24, 2010 – Resurrection: The Hope for Your Future (1 Corinthians 15:1-11) – EASTER
May 1, 2010 – Armageddon: The Last Battle (Revelation 16:16; 19:11-16)
May 8, 2010 – Millennium: The Reign of Christ on Earth (Revelation 20) – MOTHER’S DAY
May 15, 2010 – Judgment: The Final Verdict (1 Corinthians 3:12-15; Revelation 20:11-15)
May 22, 2010 – Eternity: The Beginning of Forever (Revelation 22:1-6)

Matthew 16:27-28 - "Some Standing Here..."

2011-02-11T23:20:00.018-05:00

Have you ever pondered the implications of Matthew 16:27-28 (below)? It seems rather straight forward, doesn't it? So it's rather puzzling that commentators are all over the map on this one, with most refusing consider its most obvious meaning i.e. that some of those who stood listening to Jesus, would still be alive to witness His second coming. What's your first impression? Do these two verses make you uncomfortable, causing you to scurry for your footnotes? It can mean what it sounds like it means, can it?

Matthew 16:27-28 (NASB) "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. 28"Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

Most often the commentators attempt to do one of two things and sometimes both. They either divorce verse 27 from verse 28 (since chapter divisions were not part of the original manuscripts) as though Jesus was speaking of two events separated by thousands of years i.e. verse 27 referring to a still future 2nd coming, while 28 referred to a more imminent event such as either the transfiguration or Pentecost; OR they couple verse 27 and 28 and argue that Jesus was speaking about about either the transfiguration or Pentecost.

Let me ask you a question. Are the above solutions the most natural and plausible explanations of these verses?

Is it possible that the paradigm/worldview of the commentators, is driving them far afield from what Jesus was actually teaching? Without steeling any of his thunder, consider the short videos believe from Don K. Preston (www.eschatology.org). In these"Preston's Ponderings", Don presents what I believe makes the most exegetical . Well, dig in and be prepared to be challenged.

Handling two objections

Mysterious Mass Deaths of Birds & Fish - Last Day? Kirk Cameron Weighs on CNN

2011-01-14T13:11:00.011-05:00

The more I cross paths with actor Kirk Cameron, the more I appreciate him as a brother in Christ. Even though I don't agree with his eschatology, I really love this guy. He's so down to earth and such a committed member of the body.

In the below CNN story regarding the mysterious mass deaths of birds and fish, the interviewer, Anderson Cooper, tried coaxing Cameron into linking these strange occurrences to an impending "end of days" scenario.

Kirk could have easily taken this interview in a very different direction, however, much to my appreciation he stay focused and grounded. Kirk pointed out that after everything is said and done, any given day could be our last. And we MUST be prepared for that day. I think he's right on the money. In this CNN interview with Cameron (halfway through the above clip), Kirk said with a little grin, "I'm not the religious conspiracy theorist go-to guy". And I just about busted a gut. Bravo Kirk!

Then, when CNN's Anderson Cooper pressed him on the whole "Left Behind" series (in which Kirk played a prominent movie role), Kirk said, "I'm probably going to die of some other cause before this [the end of the world] happens." How refreshing! This is a wonderful perspective and one I wish more Christians took.

"True Revelation" by Kenosis

2010-12-22T15:07:00.005-05:00

Friend, Dustin Curlee recently sent me a couple of cuts from his new CD, Transidentity. His hip-hop band, Kenosis, comprised of Cody Miles, David Boone and of Dustin, is dedicated to the proclamation and propagation of the Gospel. As they attempt to glorify Christ in all areas of life, they preach a powerful message of fulfilled redemption. I took cut #6, "True Revelation," and added the video. I hope you're blessed half as much as I have been.

(click on 4 small arrows above to bring full screen)