How You can Walk in the Spirit

Written by Dr. Bill Bright

Experiencing the adventure

A medical doctor approached me with great excitement at the conclusion of our  training conference. He was overflowing with joy and excitement.

“Since I have learned how to be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in His power, the Christian life has become a great adventure for me!” he exclaimed. “Now, I want to experience this same adventure with Christ.”

Would you like to know how to enjoy what this man an millions of other Christians have experienced? You too can know the adventure of a full, abundant, purposeful and fruitful life in Christ!

A Fresh Start For A New Year

The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.  "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I have hope in Him."  Lamentations 3:22-24

Have I ever told you how bad of a golfer I am? Well, it is true. I am inconsistent off the tee box, can’t chip to save my life, and putt like Herman Munster. That mixture of problems typically results in bad scores. Sometimes I just give myself an “F” for “fun” on the scorecard.

I remember one day I was playing golf with a friend. It was a typical day for me on the course, a few good shots and a lot of bad shots. After we made the turn for the final nine holes, however, something happened. I started to play better! It was like a scene from Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I am sure my friend was wondering, “Who are you and what have you done with my friend Jeff Schreve!” I was on fire!

We got to the last hole. If I shot par on that hole, I would have finished the back nine with a 40, my best score ever for nine holes. Unfortunately, as I stepped to the tee box, the body snatcher left me. The old Jeff was back, and it wasn’t pretty. I hit tree after tree on my way to a quadruple boogie. UGH!

Fried food not a direct cause of heart risk, new research finds

By Eric Pfeiffer | The Sideshow

Let them eat chicken fried steak

A new study has found that there is no direct correlation between the amount of fried food people eat and their risk of heart disease. Instead, the research found that long-term heart risk depended more on what kind of oil was used in the cooking process — olive oil and sunflower oil are considered the healthiest.

The study, published in the British Medical Journal, studied the eating and cooking habits of 40,000 people in Spain for nearly 15 years. The Mediterranean diet favored by most individuals in the study leans heavily on fried foods, particularly fried fish, but also the healthier olive and sunflower oils for the frying.

Myth: “If I’m a good Christian, then nothing bad will happen to me.”

Genesis 50:20

This isn’t what I asked for, thank you. I want my old life back.

The one where my parents were the perfect couple. Where I was the only one among my friends whose parents were still together. And seemingly still in love.

The one where I was voted most likely to succeed and everyone, right or wrong, envied my life because it seemed so perfect. And I believed it was.

I want to go back to the times when I knew You were involved in my life. The ones where I prayed and You answered. I talked to You, and You listened. The times when I knew You were alive. Loving. And on my side.

I want the life where all I had to do was show up for class, and I got good grades. Name a job opening, and I landed it squarely. Speak my needs, and my husband moved heaven and earth to meet them.

IT’S NOT LOVE, IT’S OXYTOCIN

Visualize being on a fourth date with an attractive man who you’re totally into. He is showering you with compliments. You can’t stop smiling as the two of you hold hands, kiss softly, and flirt playfully. A little bit of skin-to-skin contact already has your brain releasing feel good hormones called endorphins, and a powerful hormone called oxytocin. 

As the date continues, you feel even closer to him and by the end of the night, he’s managed to get you into bed. Now your oxytocin levels are through the roof, especially if he has brought you to orgasm, which releases even more of this bonding hormone. With this amount of oxytocin circulating in your system, you’re now what I like to call ‘under the influence’.  That’s right. 

The Most Common Sex Dreams Decoded

An unexpected partner appearing in your nocturnal fantasies probably doesn’t mean what you think 
Cynthia Ramnarace

what does it mean?

Have you ever had a sex dream starring someone other than the guy you're sharing a bed with? If so, don't worry--it doesn't mean you want to cheat. Instead, the person you're dreaming about usually signifies what's going on deep in your psyche. "If we pay attention, there may be something we can learn from our dreams," says marriage therapist Sharon Gilchrest O'Neill, author of A Short Guide to a Happy Marriage. "Maybe there's something missing in our lives, or maybe there's a problem in our relationship we haven't wanted to think about." Here are some of the most common sex dreams and what they really mean.

Make Advent More than "The Christmas Season"

Many of us make the four
weeks leading up to Christmas
into something it's not.

For the longest time, I thought "Advent" was just a fancy word for "the Christmas season," a holier, maybe more spiritual-sounding word for an otherwise hectic and overly-commercialized holiday stretch between Thanksgiving and Dec. 25. What I've discovered in the past few years of observing Advent is it's not just a different word; it's an entirely different approach.

Let me explain. Advent as a season is meant to make the journey toward Christmas full of meaning; it's meant to put us in touch with our deepest longings and greatest hopes; it's meant to teach us to bring all our desires together on one object: Christ. While "Christmas" as a season (properly) begins on Dec. 25 and goes 12 days (yes, there's a song about that!) until Jan. 6, Advent is all about the build-up to it. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and takes us right up to the glorious celebration of the incarnation.

When you journey through Advent to Christmas, you begin to see Jesus more fully. You recognize His incarnation was the beginning of the redemption of the world and His return is the completion of it. Advent pulls those two moments together. It overlays the joy of His arrival as a helpless babe with the hope of His appearing as conquering King. Both arrivals are anticipated in celebrating Advent.

God Sees You!

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 

 Luke 1:26-27

Late last year, I had the privilege of going to the Holy Land. It was my second trip, and it was so meaningful. One afternoon, we made the trip to Nazareth, a very busy, Islamic city today … but a very, very, very small Jewish community at the time of Christ, perhaps as low as 35 families. 

In fact, Nazareth was so small, forgotten, and disrespected that Nathanael even said, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). (I believe we know the answer to that one.)

The Queen James Bible and ‘Homophobic’ Interpretations

MICHAEL BROWN

 

 

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The Queen James Bible (queenjamesbible.com)

In case you haven’t heard the news, there is a new edition of the King James Bible that rewrites eight key verses that speak against homosexual practice. It’s called the Queen James Bible (I kid you not), and the editors state that, “We edited those eight verses in a way that makes homophobic interpretations impossible.”

Yes, you can now practice homosexuality and read your Bible without feeling condemned, although you still have to deal with the hundreds of verses affirming only heterosexual marriage and family (including one of the Ten Commandments that says, “Honor your father and mother” rather than, “Honor your father and father”).

VAGINA DENTATA

BY ALEX

The myth of a vagina with teeth and a taste for castration is normally meant to be the ultimate symbol of men’s fear of women. But that’s stupid really, as no man balks at the idea of putting his dick between the grips of a 32-strong set of pearly whites for a blowjob, does he?

Nevertheless, it seems the prospect of entering that dark unknown chasm can be pretty scary. The pussy-as-guillotine can be found throughout mythology from around the world with all sorts of variations; from women who consume you with their cannibalistic pussies, to actual dog's heads barking from between the legs.

Women and Islam

Simply put, women are treated as second-class citizens in most Muslim-majority nations. And this is not an anomaly of Islam: it fully follows from authoritative Islamic tradition. The example of Muhammad is paramount in this regard, and full justification for the poor treatment of women is found in all the main texts: the Koran, the hadith, and the sira.

But I have detailed all this elsewhere. See here for example:

www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/11/02/islam-and-women/www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/02/22/islam-and-women-2/
And it does not take a Westerner to point all this out. Many within Islam are aware of the problems, and many former Muslims are speaking against this. One such former Muslim is Ibn Warraq. He has written extensively on this particular issue, and the dangers of Islam in general.

Don't Just Sit There...Arise!

"Now four men who were lepers were at the entrance of the city's gate; and they said to one another, Why do we sit here until we die.... So they arose." (2 Kings 7:3,5, The Amplified Bible)

No matter how bad the problem is you may be facing today, no matter how far under the circumstances you may be, in 24 hours you can be back on top!

"Oh, Brother Copeland, that would be impossible!"

That's what the Samaritans thought in 2 Kings 7. Their land was being ravaged by famine. Enemy troops had surrounded them and cut off all source of supply. Mothers were eating their own children just to survive.

The Heavens Declare

Our Daily Bread 

Our Daily Bread is hosted by Les Lamborn

READ: Psalm 19:1-6

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. —Psalm 19:1

You don’t have to gaze long at the night sky to marvel at the wonder of God’s awe-inspiring handiwork. The massive stretch of galaxies and the cloudy mass of our own Milky Way remind us of the spectacular creation and the sustaining work of Jesus by whom it is all held together (Col. 1:16-17). It’s as though all of us have front-row seats in the theater of God’s creative power.

Debunked Doomsday Predictions and the Preparation that Really Matters

James Emery White

According to the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, Dec. 21, 2012, is the end-date of 

a 5,125-year-long cycle.

What might be called a “New Age” interpretation is that this date will inaugurate a new era marked by massive spiritual transformation.

Or it will bring the catastrophic end of the world.

As in the arrival of the next solar maximum, Earth being swallowed by a black hole at the center of the galaxy or the collision with another planet.

Stick to Your Calling

"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God.... Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." (2 Timothy 1:6,9)

Are you doing what God called you to do?

If you haven't ever thought about it before, that may sound like an odd question to you. You may be tempted to shrug it off and say, "Oh, I'm not really called to do anything. I'm not a pastor or a teacher or a minister of any kind...I guess I'm just what you might call a little finger on the Body of Christ."

Unshakable Things

by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken, may remain” (Hebrews 12:27).

In this present evil world, there are many pressures that would tend to shake our faith. Paul would exhort persecuted believers “that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled” by such things, but rather to “stand fast” in the truths God has taught them (II Thessalonians 2:2,15).

The “hope set before us . . . we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:18,19). The “word” to which our text refers is from Haggai 2:5–7: “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come,” who will establish “a kingdom which cannot be moved” (Hebrews 12:28).

The Earth Made New Again

by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“And He built His sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which He hath established for ever” (Psalm 78:69).

There are a number of passages in the Bible which state unequivocally that the earth, in some form, is going to continue eternally. “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4).

However, this present earth and its atmospheric heavens must first be purged of all the age-long effects of sin and the curse, which now affect the very elements (or “dust of the earth”). 

Shaking The Earth Terribly

by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth” (Isaiah 2:19).

Ever since the convulsions of the Flood, the earth’s crust has been in a state of instability, causing earthquakes from time to time all around the world.

But there are earthquakes yet to come which will exceed anything ever yet experienced. The earthquake prophesied in our text was also predicted in Revelation. “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; . . . and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And . . . (they) hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from . . . the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:12-16). 

The Eternal Earth

Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever” (Psalm 104:5).

Secular astronomers and geologists have become increasingly concerned that the earth might be shattered some day by a collision with a swarm of asteroids, or even with a star. Apart from this, they say, the sun is going to burn out (or maybe explode!), and this would also terminate the earth. Possibly some future nuclear war will set off a chain reaction which will disintegrate the earth.

We can allay their fears. God has assured us that both the Heavens and the earth will abide forever. He is the Creator, and, being omniscient, He does not make mistakes.

The 5 things you should NEVER say by text

Cosmopolitan


Does texting make us more honest? Or are there some things easier said by text? As researchers at the University of Michigan say we’re more open to disclosing sensitive information via text, Cosmo reveals the five things that should never be conveyed through the medium of a text message. Ever.

1. “I don’t think this is working.” 
Admit it, you’d be up in arms if a guy sent it to you, so same goes. Breaking up over text just ain’t cool, whoever you are. As easy as it is to send that text, it’ll be much better coming from you in person. So suck it up... 

2. “Don’t tell anyone, but...” 
As a general rule, if your text starts with this then DON’T hit that send button. Secrets should be told face-to-face where the person can’t press a forward button. Word. 

Disruptions: Indiscreet Photos, Glimpsed Then Gone

By NICK BILTON

Snapchat allows people to take and send a picture, then control how long it is visible by the person who receives it.

People once took photographs so they could capture a moment for themselves and keep it forever. Then digital cameras and cellphones turned photos into something more ephemeral and more easily shared. But as the case of Anthony Weiner demonstrated, photos that are shared but are not meant to last, sometimes stick around.

Want to Send a Nude Photo to Your Honey? Here’s the Smart (and Safe) Way to Do t!

Make the most of your assets with beauty tips, digital tricks and safe sexting practices 

Michele Laufik



Are You Really Going to Do This?

Before you strip down and smile for the camera, consider a few things first: Can you trust your partner? Are you ready to accept negative consequences, like the photos get leaked? Are you hesitant about being in the buff? “If you're genuinely uncomfortable posing naked, it's not going to feel good for you,” explains Lux Alptraum, editor of Fleshbot.com. “And anything that doesn't feel good to you is fundamentally un-hot.” But if the thought totally turns you on, then go for it!

The Sexism of Harlotry

Kae Am

Many readers have undoubtedly heard about the Secret Service sex scandal in Cartagena, Columbia. After a night of drinking and lewdness, agents brought prostitutes to hotel Caribe and then refused to pay for their harlotry. There ensued a big disturbance in the hallway, and numerous people hurried to break up the disturbance between the agents and the prostitute. Dozens of officials have been implicated. David Chaney and Greg Stokes seem to have the main role in the altercation, followed by Arthur Huntington.

.I have wanted to write about this for several weeks now, but other things in life had beckoned me aside. Mainly, I wished to discuss the sexism about harlotry. The government decided that the solution to this problem is to provide ethics training for the Secret Service agents. The Secret Service needs specially-designed classes to teach them that women are human beings worthy and deserving of respect, never to be regarded as things for male pleasure.

Disgraced Mary

By Kelly McFadden

In a loud voice she exclaimed, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
Luke 1:42-45

Teen pregnancy is one of the most difficult things a young girl can go through. Some choose abortions so they don’t have to face their parents or friends with news that they are pregnant. Others who carry the child drop out of school and face the challenge of being shunned by family and friends. Let’s face it. Pregnant unwed teens are not looked upon with a great deal of respect, even in this more “tolerant” day and age, let alone throughout history.

The Precious Present

Gail Rodgers

“The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” (Exodus 33: 14)

“Yesterday’s history, tomorrow, a mystery; today is a gift, it’s the present!” This chorus of a catchy song runs through my mind as I wrap my Christmas gifts.

“Today is a gift, it’s the present.”

As I tie the red and green ribbons I linger over the words, “Today is a gift”… and I wonder, “How often, especially at this time of year, do I forget the “today” of my life?

Receiving A Miracle

Dear friends and partners,

   This week I finish part 2 of the study, "Receiving a miracle from God."  The prophet Isaiah asked the question in chapter 53, "Who will believe the report of the Lord?"  The report of the Lord is the final word on your life no matter what the world has to say.  Through the years I have learned to trust God in the most difficult situations imagined.  I know many of you have done the same.  The same God that miraculously brought you out of the matter is the same God who will do it again!

   The doctors report may be against you, but the word of the Lord is for you.  Sickness and disease cannot win against a victorious Believer in Jesus Christ!  Debt, lack and poverty cannot take your life because Jesus paid the price for your sins and He has redeemed you from the curse of the law that was against you.  I encourage you today to walk in the promise of the word of God and receive your miracle now!

The Treasure Box

Written by Kristi Huseby

“[B]ut Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.” (Luke 2:19, NLT)

Did you have a treasure box growing up? I did. In my treasure box I had a very old dollar coin that my Mom had given to me, some chapstick, and various other items that you might have considered junk but to me they were valued possessions.

In Luke 2:19 (NLT) we get the idea that Mary had a treasure box of sorts, only her treasures were memories of Jesus and how his life intersected with hers. Look at what it says, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

What were those things she stored in her “treasure box”? Could it have been the time when the Angel came to tell her that she would bear a child even though she was a virgin? Or what about when she visited with Elizabeth who was old, wrinkled and very pregnant? Did she treasure watching God’s miracle growing within her?

All the Women of the Bible : Puah

Scripture Reference—Exodus 1:15

Name Meaning — Child bearing or joy of parents

Alarmed over the rapid increase of the population of Israelites in Egypt, Pharaoh ordered two Egyptian midwives to destroy all male children as soon as they were born (Exodus 1:15-20). He would never have employed Hebrew women to destroy the males of their own nation. The answer of the two named midwives, Puah and Shiprah, to Pharaoh’s anger when he discovered that his cruel edict was not being carried out, implies that they were used to wait upon Egyptian women who only employed them in difficulty at childbirth (Exodus 1:19). Hebrew women seldom employed midwives for they were more “lively,” or had far easier births than the Egyptians.

SABBATH : A Sign Forever

Signs are important. We could hardly get along without them. We have signs for road safety, for identifying stores, indicating dangers like poison, radiation or high voltage wires, for finding geographic destinations, or merely navigating our way through an airport or sports stadium.

Signs were also important in the ancient world, including the ancient nation of Israel. The God of Israel gave signs to his people and used them for their benefit. One of the most notable was, of course, the rainbow after Noah’s flood. Another was the Sabbath rest on the seventh day of the week. This sign was given to Israel “forever” (Exodus 31:17).

Ruth: Romance and Redemption

Ruth meets Boaz: Ruth 2

In Israel, the barley harvest began in the spring. The community in Bethlehem observed God’s law concerning harvesting: “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest…. Leave them for the poor and the alien” (Leviticus 19:9-10).

"And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor’" (Ruth 2:2). Illustration above by Dan Andreason; below by James Tissot

Ruth was both poor and an alien. She had few prospects in Judah, as Naomi had warned her. However, she was able to provide for Naomi and herself by working hard gleaning the grain left by the harvesters (Ruth 2:2).

There is an almost idyllic quality to the Bethlehem community described in Ruth, which — especially when one considers it existed during the turbulent period of the judges — testifies powerfully to the difference a few people living God’s way can make. Bethlehem would later become famous, first as the “town of David” and later as the birthplace of the Messiah (Luke 2:4-7).

“As it turned out, [Ruth] found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech” (Ruth 2:3). Boaz was a “man of standing [Hebrew: ‘ish gibbor chail, implying Boaz was physically impressive and had noble character]” (verse 1).

Boaz asked his foreman who the stranger gleaning in the field was. The foreman replied that she was the young woman who had accompanied Naomi back from Moab. Boaz then told Ruth to continue gleaning in his field, and helped her far beyond the demands of the law. He even ordered his harvesters to make Ruth especially welcome, enabling her to gather extra barley.

Ruth then asked Boaz, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me — a foreigner?” (verse 10). Ruth’s expression about finding favor in Boaz’s eyes, used by her on three occasions (verses 2, 10, 13), was a culturally appropriate way of showing respect. Ruth thus displayed the type of attitude the apostle Paul later taught Christians to have, when he said, “In humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

Jacob's Ladder - Stairway To The Father

And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night... and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. Genesis 28:10-12 (KJV)

When I was a girl in Sunday school, we used to sing a popular chorus, "We are climbing Jacob's ladder... soldiers of the cross." The song harkened to a story in the Bible about Jacob. He fell asleep and had a wonderfully mysterious dream -- Jacob saw a ladder stretching from heaven to earth with angels ascending and descending on it. The ladder bridged the yawning gulf between man and God. When he woke up, Jacob realized it was a divine visitation. 

Twenty-Seven Percent - is prophecy important?

Our Daily Bread 

Our Daily Bread is hosted by Les Lamborn

READ: 2 Peter 3:1-13

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness? —2 Peter 3:11

People’s attitudes toward Bible prophecy vary widely. Some believers are so preoccupied with it that they are constantly talking about the latest world events, thinking they are biblical signs that Christ could return at any moment. Others are so casual in their view of prophecy that it seems as if they don’t believe it’s relevant to the Christian life at all.

Pain Has Limits Set By God

One of our recurring fantasies is that there are some people who have it all, who have no problems, who just seem to cruise through life. You can see their faces and hear their stories on prime-time TV. Maybe you wish you could have a life like theirs.

Maybe you've also secretly wished you could be a Christian superhero like Abraham or David or St. Paul. Actually, the heroes of the Bible suffered as much as or more than you.

A Small Breakthrough in the Mystery of Touch

By Belinda Luscombe

The sense of touch is more of a mystery than that of hearing, smell, sight or taste. Perhaps that’s why more songs have been written about it (“Smell Me in the Morning” just doesn’t have the same ring.)

 But now scientists have unlocked one secret about how it works using only a fruit fly and an eyelash.

Yet Another Reason To Never Take Naked Pictures

by Jessica Sager

Naked pictures were risky already, but now sending them got a whole lot scarier.  Source: Shutterstock

We’ve told you time and again that taking and sending naked pictures is a bad idea. And it just became a worse one.

Professional douchebag and “revenge porn” curator Hunter Moore is back. You may have heard of his old website, IsAnyoneUp, which had people send naked pictures of their exes in, usually without the naked person’s consent. You’re probably like, “But wait! That’s illegal!”

Not necessarily. Obviously if you’re a minor, there are a lot of legal repercussions, but if you’re over 18, Hunter Moore has a whole bunch of legal loopholes to protect him from lawsuits or jail time. (We did mention he’s a douchebag, right? Because he is.) And if you’re under 18 and post the photos yourself, you can get in trouble for distributing child porn. Sounds not-so-fun, right?

Elijah : The Man Who Had No Fear of Man

Elias, Elijah [Ĕlī'as,Ĕlī'jah]—god is jehovah or god himself.

1. Elias is the Greek form of Elijah (Matt. 11:14). Elijah the Tishbite is the grandest and most romantic character Israel ever produced (1 Kings 17; 18;19).

The Man Who Had No Fear of Man

No career in the Old Testament is more vividly portrayed, or has as much fascination as that of the unique character of Elijah. 

The New Testament attests to his greatness and reveals what an indelible impression he made upon the mind of his nation. All we know of him before his dramatic appearance can be summed up in the words: “Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead” (1 Kings 17:1). Scripture is silent about his past history. 

As Long as the Candle Burns

“Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.” — Genesis 42:3

This Torah portion for this week, Mikeitz, is from Genesis 41:1–44:17 and 1 Kings 3:1–4:1.

By the time Jacob’s sons go down to Egypt because of the famine in Canaan, Joseph has been gone for 22 years. So the Sages find it strange that in the Scriptures, the ten brothers are referred to as “Joseph’s brothers.” They haven’t had anything to do with Joseph for over two decades and they certainly hadn’t acted much like brothers the last time they saw Joseph! Wouldn’t "Jacob’s sons" have been a more appropriate term?

The Sages explain that they are called “Joseph’s brothers” in order to teach us that when they came down to Egypt, they were indeed behaving like family. They had long regretted their act of selling Joseph and were desperate to find him. But that leads to another question: Why would they even imagine that Joseph would still be alive? The life expectancy for slaves in Egypt wasn’t very long!

Is Your Church Alive?

Written by John Grant 

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 

Seeing the commissioning of a new naval vessel is a wonderful sight and experience. Amidst all the pomp and circumstance dockside, the ship is moored at the dock, quiet as a church mouse and not a sight of a single person aboard.

Then at the appointed time someone says: “Officers and crew of the (name of vessel), you may board and bring the ship to life.” Then the crew comes running from behind the audience and boards the ship. It literally comes to life, as the crew scurries to their assigned duty stations. Smoke pours from the stacks, lights come on and sailors man the rails.

Is Astrology A True Science? Part 2

By Gary Zalben

Part II continues. This is a very deep and vast subject and you will not find these answers in "Astrology for Dummies" at your local book store, or from a collection of the National Enquirer. These words come from a line of Spiritual Masters whom spoke from a state of cosmic consciousness to teach us divine strategies.

All things in the universe attract one another either by strong or weak gravitational electromagnetic impulses. Thus the influences of the planets is nothing but ones environment which is dependent upon your own karma. It is you who attracts such influences as a certain husband, wife, friend or family. You draw a specific person born to a specific sign. There are planetary influences where you have a hard time getting along with specific people who are there to teach you specific attitudes. You must understand that anything that happens to you in life sub serves a divine purpose. You may say "oh I have the wrong wife, oh I have the wrong husband." They are there attracted by your own inner environmental magnetic field which I will further explain. When you let yourself be governed by the environment to which your karma has magnetically drawn you, you are ruled by the vibrations of that particular planet.

Is Astrology a True Science?

By G Zalben

Learning your horoscope can have a tendency to freeze or weaken your willpower and paralyze you with its inaccurate messages. Karma rules the brainless stars and your fate. We are not made in the image of astrology; we are made in the image of God.

Is astrology a true science? Yes it is, but there are few scientists who understand it. You have to be a pretty highly advanced being to be able to tell the karma of a person and his future. And you can make tremendous karma when you influence a person to believe things that you believe to be true, for if you are an astrologer, for every mistake you have made in your astrological chart you are going to take that karma of the individual.

How Astrological Signs Affect Personality

By Jed Eane

In astrology, the position of the sun at the time of your birth determines your sun sign or, as it's more commonly known, your star sign. The sun is deemed very important in astrology; it rules willpower and ego and is fundamental to who a person is and what they're about.

The position of the other planets at the time you were born also has an effect on how you behave, but it's the sun's position, over all the other planets' positions, that is taken into account when determining a person's character.

Elements

How Your New Zodiac Sign Affects Your Diet Habits

By Theresa DeLay - DietsInReview.com

For some, following the Zodiac is a way of life. Whether a sun sign or a water sign, you can chock up a lot about who you are, and how are others are, based on when you were born and the alignment of the sun, moon, and stars on that date. People peg their personality, likes, dislikes, mannerisms, and more on their astrological sign. To some it's quality entertainment, to others, it's a cornerstone of their identity.

So if your astrological sign applies to all of that, why not link your diet habits to your astrological sign? Here's an overview of how each sign tends to diet. Does yours align, or did it miss the mark?

Horoscope : What's Your Sign?

Written by Jeanne Caldwell

Neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.... Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:26b, 31)

In the sixties, horoscopes (prophesying a person's future through the use of astrology) were on the rise. 

Everyone wanted to know what astrological sign you were born under. It was the topic of conversation during coffee breaks and at lunch tables. Everywhere you went, people were talking about their "signs."

I was no different. I worked in an office where we all discussed each other's signs. Some read books about astrology or followed their daily horoscopes in the newspaper. Many had faith in them.

Gen XXX: Teens Addicted in a World Awash in Porn

PAUL STRAND/CBN

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Today, teenagers are bombarded with these images like never before through the Internet. They're growing up in a world awash in X-rated material. (CBN)

When it comes to pornography, no one is immune. It affects men and women of all ages.

Today, teenagers are bombarded with these images like never before through the Internet. They're growing up in a world awash in X-rated material.

It's a $97 billion business every year, making more than top tech companies Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, eBay, Google, and Yahoo combined.

Roughly 12 percent of the world's websites, 4.2 million of them, offer the illicit material. About 2.5 billion pornographic emails whiz through cyberspace everyday--a whopping 8 percent of all the world's daily emails.