Saturday, November 7, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Amazing Grace
Click on the Title to hear one of the most beautiful rendition of this hymn.
John Newton, author of the lyrics to Amazing Grace, was born in 1725 in Wapping, London, England. Despite the powerful message of "Amazing Grace," Newton's religious beliefs initially lacked conviction; his youth was marked by religious confusion and a lack of moral self-control and discipline.
John Newton
After a brief time in the Royal Navy, Newton began his career in slave trading. The turning point in Newton's spiritual life was a violent storm that occurred one night while at sea. Moments after he left the deck, the crewman who had taken his place was swept overboard. Although he manned the vessel for the remainder of the tempest, he later commented that, throughout the tumult, he realized his helplessness and concluded that only the grace of God could save him. Prodded by what he had read in Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ, Newton took the first step toward accepting faith.
These incidents and his 1750 marriage to Mary Catlett changed Newton significantly. On his slave voyages, he encouraged the sailors under his charge to pray. He also began to ensure that every member of his crew treated their human cargo with gentleness and concern. Nevertheless, it would be another 40 years until Newton openly challenged the trafficking of slaves.
Some three years after his marriage, Newton suffered a stroke that prevented him from returning to sea; in time, he interpreted this as another step in his spiritual voyage. He assumed a post in the Customs Office in the port of Liverpool and began to explore Christianity more fully. As Newton attempted to experience all the various expressions of Christianity, it became clear that he was being called to the ministry. Since Newton lacked a university degree, he could not be ordained through normal channels. However, the landlord of the parish at Olney was so impressed with the letters Newton had written about his conversion that he offered the church to Newton; he was ordained in June 1764.
In Olney, the new curate met the poet William Cowper, also a newly-converted Christian. Their friendship led to a spiritual collaboration that completed the inspiration for "Amazing Grace," the poem Newton most likely wrote in Kineton, Warwickshire around Christmas 1772. The lyrics are based on his reflections on an Old Testament text he was preparing to preach on, adding his perspective about his own conversion while on his slave ship, the Greyhound, in 1748.
Newton's lyrics have become a favourite for Christians, largely because the hymn vividly and briefly sums up the doctrine of divine grace. The lyrics are based on 1 Chronicles 17:16-17, a prayer of King David in which he marvels at God's choosing him and his house. Newton apparently wrote this for use in a sermon he preached on this passage on New Year's Day 1773, and for which he left his sermon notes, which correspond to the flow of the lyrics. (He entitled the piece "Faith's review and expectation.").
The song has also become known as a favourite with supporters of freedom and human rights, both Christian and non-Christian, in part because many assume it to be Newton's testimony about his slave trading past.
The hymn was quite popular on both sides in the American Civil War.
Friday, April 10, 2009
End of times
A French (mostly) and English presentation on the end of times.
Let it load... and take your time. This would take you 2 hours to read at the very least... especially if you can read French.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Christ: the Centre of Prophecy
The book of Revelation is not simply an outline of chronological events of the last days. As we read in chapter 1, verse 1, it is a “revelation of Jesus Christ […] to show what must soon take place.” I want to underline the conjunction “of”. This book is a revelation of Christ in a special character in keeping with the contents and purpose of this intriguing book.
Let us describe what is meant here. This divine revelation not only emanates from Jesus Christ, but it is an actual unveiling* of his Person in a particular aspect hitherto not revealed during his first visit on earth and as described through out the Gospels. A fuller appreciation of the contents of this unusual revelation will be realized in the measure in which you, the reader, will grasp and value the glories of Christ as presented in this book. To summarize, we have a revelation provided for us through Christ and simultaneously, concerning Christ.
In Revelation 19:10 we read: “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” This verse could be inverted to say: “The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus.” The Apostle John, through the Holy Spirit, is communicating to us the objective and scope of prophecy. The very substance and essence, yes, the very goal and motive of prophecy is a testimony to us of the greatness of Christ. If we lose sight of Jesus in prophecy, we set aside the very reason why God, in his infinite grace, gave us these prophetic utterances. Understanding and appreciating this perspective will tremendously enrich our spiritual experience as we journey through time and ponder the wonderful book of the Apocalypse.
The gist of prophecy is God’s display of the prominence and grandeur of His Son, Jesus Christ.
At OKChrist, we want YOU to make this your very own experience.
If you need a New Testament, we will be happy to send you a copy FREE of charge. Just send us an e-mail and let us know.
André J. Lebrun
* (The Greek work for revelation means “to draw the veil aside”.)
Let us describe what is meant here. This divine revelation not only emanates from Jesus Christ, but it is an actual unveiling* of his Person in a particular aspect hitherto not revealed during his first visit on earth and as described through out the Gospels. A fuller appreciation of the contents of this unusual revelation will be realized in the measure in which you, the reader, will grasp and value the glories of Christ as presented in this book. To summarize, we have a revelation provided for us through Christ and simultaneously, concerning Christ.
In Revelation 19:10 we read: “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” This verse could be inverted to say: “The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus.” The Apostle John, through the Holy Spirit, is communicating to us the objective and scope of prophecy. The very substance and essence, yes, the very goal and motive of prophecy is a testimony to us of the greatness of Christ. If we lose sight of Jesus in prophecy, we set aside the very reason why God, in his infinite grace, gave us these prophetic utterances. Understanding and appreciating this perspective will tremendously enrich our spiritual experience as we journey through time and ponder the wonderful book of the Apocalypse.
The gist of prophecy is God’s display of the prominence and grandeur of His Son, Jesus Christ.
At OKChrist, we want YOU to make this your very own experience.
If you need a New Testament, we will be happy to send you a copy FREE of charge. Just send us an e-mail and let us know.
André J. Lebrun
* (The Greek work for revelation means “to draw the veil aside”.)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Yearning for Deliverance
Most of us, if not all of us, (from the poorest to the richest) are looking for some kind of deliverance from the thousands of different situations we are going through. If “by accident” [or by chance?] you happen to stumble on this short message, you might identify with one or more of the following situations. Most probably you are yearning for DELIVERANCE.
You may want to be delivered from:
• A difficult, tricky and intricate job situation - your supervisor or boss is lousy, the working environment is depressing and you even have a big tiff with one of your co-workers. You are worn out from “meeting the deadline syndrome”. You’ve had enough and you want to be delivered from that job.
• Unemployment - You had a wonderful job with good pay, great benefits and you were next in line for that elusive corner office with the ‘million dollar view’. You were indeed on “a roll”! Then, you got the bad end of your company’s down-sizing venture. You got laid off! You are now unemployed and ready to accept any job – even flipping burgers at the local fast food restaurant! You must get out of this situation and fast!
• Unpleasant financial circumstances – You’ve lost ‘big time’ in the past few months and your portfolio has shrunk dreadfully. You were planning a well deserved vacation and a well-earned early retirement. You now have to delay one or the other, or even both! You’re depressed, discouraged and distressed!! You want a way out!
• Soured family relationships – Relations with your spouse, even your own children have deteriorated. You’ve tried different types of counseling and given it your best shot but nothing seems to work. The more you try, the worse it gets. You are tired and desperate!
• Mental anguish - You are stressed out physically and mentally. Wherever you look you see ‘black’ and you just can’t get out of this anxious cycle. You need help but you don’t know where to look!
• Other (You know exactly the particular situation YOU are in and you feel trapped.)
One of today’s well-known songwriter and musician has penned the following words:
You may want to be delivered from:
• A difficult, tricky and intricate job situation - your supervisor or boss is lousy, the working environment is depressing and you even have a big tiff with one of your co-workers. You are worn out from “meeting the deadline syndrome”. You’ve had enough and you want to be delivered from that job.
• Unemployment - You had a wonderful job with good pay, great benefits and you were next in line for that elusive corner office with the ‘million dollar view’. You were indeed on “a roll”! Then, you got the bad end of your company’s down-sizing venture. You got laid off! You are now unemployed and ready to accept any job – even flipping burgers at the local fast food restaurant! You must get out of this situation and fast!
• Unpleasant financial circumstances – You’ve lost ‘big time’ in the past few months and your portfolio has shrunk dreadfully. You were planning a well deserved vacation and a well-earned early retirement. You now have to delay one or the other, or even both! You’re depressed, discouraged and distressed!! You want a way out!
• Soured family relationships – Relations with your spouse, even your own children have deteriorated. You’ve tried different types of counseling and given it your best shot but nothing seems to work. The more you try, the worse it gets. You are tired and desperate!
• Mental anguish - You are stressed out physically and mentally. Wherever you look you see ‘black’ and you just can’t get out of this anxious cycle. You need help but you don’t know where to look!
• Other (You know exactly the particular situation YOU are in and you feel trapped.)
One of today’s well-known songwriter and musician has penned the following words:
…We Live In Hope Of Deliverance From The Darkness That Surrounds Us. From the song: Hope of Deliverance by Paul McCartney
All of us live with the hope that someday, some how we will experience “deliverance from the darkness that surrounds us”. We constantly yearn for deliverance from unpleasant circumstances and entrance into more pleasant ones. Yet, the most crucial and vital deliverance is not the one that takes us out of disagreeable situations (as great as that is) but when our spirits and souls are delivered and brought to the lofty heights of the forgiveness of sins and the enjoyment of peace within our hearts. THAT is the very thing that Christ, the Son of God brings to those who seek solace under his protection.
Christ has said: “I have been sent to proclaim freedom (deliverance) for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind and to release the oppressed.” (Read Luke 4:18)
We at OKChrist want you to experience freedom, deliverance and the release from your anguish. That delivery is eternal, permanent and only Christ can do that for you. He’s offering it to YOU even as you read this!
We read in Acts 16, verses 22-24 how two men had been “stripped [of their clothes], beaten… flogged… and thrown in prison with their feet fastened in stocks.” What a dark, distressful, dismal and definitely dispiriting situation. What did they do? They sang praise to God (verse 25). I say WOW! What a display of joy coming from these liberated and emancipated spirits. They were enjoying the peace of Christ in the most nerve-racking circumstances.
Two men looked out through prison bars;
One saw mud, the other stars!
Now that’s DELIVERANCE! If you want it, come and get it (like the song says)! Christ is offering it to you NOW!!
Read about the real, bona fide deliverance as found in the New Testament!
Read Christ’s Words!
Read about Christ’s Work!
Discover how He can be YOUR Deliverer!
[Jesus] gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. (Gal. 1:4)
[We] wait for […] Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thes. 1:10)]
The Good Lord bless you!
If you need a New Testament, we will be happy to send you a copy FREE of charge. Just send us an e-mail to info@okchrist.com and let us know.
André J Lebrun
Friday, January 30, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Party Time
Imagine for a brief moment you are having a BIG party. Huge… You have planned this for quite awhile. Your friends are there, even those you haven’t seen in a long long time! No one’s missing. The music is smooth, the ambience is superb, your guests are having a marvelous time and so are you. It doesn’t get any better than this. It’s the perfect party!!!
SUDDENLY, out of the blue a hand appears and writes a few words on the wall!
The message is clear and it’s specifically addressed to YOU!
It says: “[Your NAME], you have been weighed in the scale of Divine Justice and you have been found missing major elements which I REQUIRE. In 24 hours you will give an account to your Creator.”
The above has actually happened! Read Daniel chapter 5, verses 1-6 and 22-28. You can find this portion here.
What would you do?
(The way you respond to this question will determine your eternal destiny)
You could:
1. Ignore the message and continue to party. Don’t forget though, you’ve got a mere 24 hours to go!!
2. Run to your lawyer and update your will! There isn’t much time for that as it’s the week-end, his office is closed and you’re down to your last 24 hours!!
3. Call your friends and relatives and make sure they know your last thoughts and hopefully get things right with those you have sour relations with! Don’t forget you haven’t got much time! The clock is ticking!
4. Tell your guests that they need to go home. You want to be alone and think this through.
5. Attempt (in the best way you can imagine) to make things right with the One who just sent you that message!! He’s listening!
Assuming that you chose the last option you would probably ask yourself some of the following questions:
- What will happen when I give an account to the Almighty? What does that mean? Can I face Him and survive the ordeal?
- What does He mean by those “missing elements”?
- What does He look for and require from me?
- How do I go about ‘getting right with God’? Where do I start? Where do I go? What must I do to please Him?
- Is it possible to get on ‘good terms’ with the Great Eternal One? I do know ‘of’ Him and I know a little ‘about’ Him, but honestly, I don’t really know Him personally! Scary thought!
Dear friend, the answer to the above questions is quite simple. It is so simple that too often people misjudge, miscalculate and unfortunately simply give up on finding the Divine Solution!
We at ‘OKChrist’ are pleased to present the message of all messages: CHRIST, the Eternal Son of God is the answer to our deepest needs (temporal and eternal).
We leave you with the following straightforward words of Jesus Himself.
1. “Jesus said: I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
2. “Whoever drinks the water I give… will never thirst. Indeed the water I give [your name] will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
3. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever trusts in him shall not perish but have eternal life… Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
If you need a New Testament, we will be happy to send you a copy FREE of charge.
God bless!
ajl
Friday, January 2, 2009
Expelled - by Ben Stein
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed - DVD
On You Tube
In this groundbreaking documentary, economist, actor, lawyer, and columnist Ben Stein travels the world on a quest for truth, and learns that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure, and even fired - for merely believing that there might be evidence of design in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of random chance.
This DVD will open your eyes to the shocking suppression of academic freedom in American schools, universities, and media.
Format: DVDDate: 2008Audience: GeneralLength: 90 min.Code: DEXPE1
"Expelled" Trailer [2 minutes]
Our best wishes from us to you all
Have a wonderful 2009 everyone and may the Lord bless our mutual families with health, love and happiness.
Every year is exciting at http://www.okchrist.com/ full of new challenges, letters to respond, people to help, expanding the knowledge of the Bible for many, even humbly attempting to educate some Christians and non-christians about Scripture. We trust, with an impact.
Every year is exciting at http://www.okchrist.com/ full of new challenges, letters to respond, people to help, expanding the knowledge of the Bible for many, even humbly attempting to educate some Christians and non-christians about Scripture. We trust, with an impact.
In looking back to last year, we are grateful to many. The translation into French of this website continues, we were able to distribute many New Testaments and Gospels and so much more. We still need your help in suporting this ministry. Our appreciation to our readers and to our supporters.
Have a great 2009!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The Revised Church of Oprah
The problem with Oprah's new religion (see Watch this below) is ignoring the question of "Revelation". If there is a God, does he/she has the ability to reveal "itself". If there is a God, can God Create and Reveal Himself? Yes or no? She mixes up Religion with Revelation.
God IS "jealous" because He wants true salvation from above... from outside our realm of Nature. God is Jealous because of the Love for His own Son. That is what Oprah is missing. She does not see that God did reveal himself. Simple... (I am surprised a women like that would miss that).
God IS "jealous" because He wants true salvation from above... from outside our realm of Nature. God is Jealous because of the Love for His own Son. That is what Oprah is missing. She does not see that God did reveal himself. Simple... (I am surprised a women like that would miss that).
Her whole thing is a hoax. For example: when one of her key "spiritual" guests responds to the question of whether he believed in death or not: "I don't give it any thought", he replied. Now let me ask you if knowledge comes from "not thinking" about a fundamental subject such as death... Think of the death of children 2 years old... why... We have to "think" about these things!
Her religion is more a form of philosophy and psychology. Nothing new.
Her religion is more a form of philosophy and psychology. Nothing new.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Beyond our Fears
But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"
then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:26
A frightening storm rose quickly on the Sea of Galilee, and the disciples are afraid. Because of their limited faith, they feared for their lives. When they turned to Jesus, He calmed the waters and he rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith in Him.
On occasion, we, like the disciples, are frightened by the inevitable storms of life. Why are we afraid? Because we, like the disciples, possesses imperfect faith.
When we genuinely accept God's promises as absolute truth, when we trust Him with life here on earth and life eternal, we have little to fear. Faith in God is the antidote to worry. Faith in God is the foundation of courage and the source of power. Today, let us trust God more completely and, by doing so, move beyond our fears to a place of abundance, assurance, and peace.
Fear lurks in the shadows of every area of life. The future may look very threatening.
Jesus says, "Stop being afraid. Trust me!"
Charles Swindoll.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Yes, I have seen God...
Question
Have you seen God?
I’ve been living for 33 years,
Never seen God’s face and tears.
No one has ever seen Him,
He has been hiding, is seems.
An atheist client made me think,
Asked “Seen God?” without a blink.
I answered “Not yet” humorously,
At home, it puzzled me deeply.
Have you even seen God?
Nobody, even in the clouds.
Why is He hiding from us?
Do you think He’s real or a fuss?
If there’s God, there’ll be world peace,
How come violence never cease?
Why does He allow unfair suffering?
Endless diseases on human being.
Too much doubts on God’s existence
There’ll be no end in our evidence.
“”have you seen God?” may be the question,
To prove that God is only man’s invention.
Have you ever seen God in your life?
In real physical form and in your sight?
Have you ever wondered lately?
We need to wake up and face the reality.
HAVE YOU SEEN GOD?
By Florante Alumia
Have you seen God?
I’ve been living for 33 years,
Never seen God’s face and tears.
No one has ever seen Him,
He has been hiding, is seems.
An atheist client made me think,
Asked “Seen God?” without a blink.
I answered “Not yet” humorously,
At home, it puzzled me deeply.
Have you even seen God?
Nobody, even in the clouds.
Why is He hiding from us?
Do you think He’s real or a fuss?
If there’s God, there’ll be world peace,
How come violence never cease?
Why does He allow unfair suffering?
Endless diseases on human being.
Too much doubts on God’s existence
There’ll be no end in our evidence.
“”have you seen God?” may be the question,
To prove that God is only man’s invention.
Have you ever seen God in your life?
In real physical form and in your sight?
Have you ever wondered lately?
We need to wake up and face the reality.
HAVE YOU SEEN GOD?
By Florante Alumia
Answer
Have you seen God?
A Response to an Article published in the Mensa Society’s mc2 magazine (March 2008)
Have you seen God? The question is asked. Yes I have, I answer… But not the way you think.
You say: He has been hiding, it seems.
I will agree with you on this point. Though He has revealed Himself at different times and in different ways: not in a way we would expect, but He has shown Himself on His own terms! After all, He is the Master of the Universe, the Creator, the infinite One and we are all His offspring and creatures of His design.
How can a finite being like me grasp, understand, behold and comprehend an Eternal, Infinite Being? Logic dictates this to be impossible. He answers to no one! We answer to Him!!
I may not like this but He has made the rules and yes, He is the Inventor of this game called LIFE!
Still, He has not left us in the dark! He has seen it good to reveal attributes of Himself, even though He is, by nature, invisible, infinite and intriguing, to say the least.
“No one has ever seen God but the One who ever was at the Father’s side has revealed Him”. Someone once asked: “Show us the Father.” Christ answered: “Anyone who has seen ME has seen the Father.”
You ask: “Have you ever seen God in your life?” – Yes I have!
“In real physical form and in your sight?” you say. I answer: Not in “physical form” – we cannot show you that which has no form - but I have seen God’s eternal Love and Moral Qualities in Christ.
You ask: “What about world peace?” Now that is a noble query!
“And unfair suffering and endless diseases” you add. To which I respond: There are mysteries with no answers while we are down here.
At one point in time, Christ came and made incredible claims! He asserted that he was God ‘in the flesh’!
He either was a hoax, a joke, a big lie OR exactly what He claimed to be: God manifested and displayed in a human form.
This blows me away! The infinite, Eternal Being coming down to our level and living in poverty in our world of limited dimensions.
Christ was the Prince of Peace and yet, the world crucified Him. “We will NOT have this man rule over us” they cried. They preferred a murderer (Barrabas) to the Prince of Peace.
So I say: How can peace be a dominant factor in a world that rejected Him, and still does?
God has spoken and displayed Himself through the Person of Christ. But, FAITH is required to see through the clouds of darkness and appreciate God’s revelation of Himself. “For, without faith, it is impossible to please Him.”
André Lebrun
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Love Letter to you
This may take time to upload. It is worth the wait. Click TWICE on play. This is taken from one of the most beautiful christian websites I know. Once you have seen this Love Letter presentation, visit the original website here.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The cross they bear - India's Christians persecuted
On January 16th, 2008, as she prayed with a large group of Christians, a mob of Hindu extremists arrived. They chased worshippers away, set fire to a car and ten motocycles and, threatened to cut them "into pieces".In recent weeks Hindu extremists in India's "tribal belt" have stepped up a vicious anti-Christian campain. Over Christmas in Orissa mobs set fire to 55 churches and 600 houses. This is the worst aniti-Christian violence independant India has seen. The population of Christians in India is between 3% to 6% of the population (close to 7 million individuals).
Most Indian Christians are dalits, at the bottom of the caste system, once known as "untouchables". Christian converts often claim to be Hindus to keep access to government jobs and college places "reserved" for Hiduism's lower castes.
More than 230 people have been arrested on conversion charges in one single state in the past two years. The recent Christmas violence was mostly directed at Catholics. Identifying religious minorities as a common enemy has proven an effective rallying cry for right-wing Hindu groups.
At this time, Christians fear more violence in the future.
Source: The Economist, Feb 9th, 2008 Edition.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
How Populations Grow
"And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them" (Exodus 1:7).
Populations can grow very rapidly. For example, one can calculate that the seventy who came into Egypt with Jacob (Genesis 46:27) could easily have multiplied to over five million in just ten generations, assuming only that the average family had six children who lived and reproduced, and that only two generations were living contemporaneously at any one time. This was less than half the number in Jacob's immediate family. The actual count of the grown Israelite men (not including the tribe of Levi) who left Egypt with Moses was "six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty" (Numbers 1:46). The total population was probably between two and three million at the time.
This illustrates how rapidly populations can grow when conditions are favorable. In fact, if a simple geometric growth rate is assumed (which was the assumption made by Charles Darwin in relation to his imagined "struggle for existence" in nature), it would only take about 1100 years--assuming 35 years per generation--to develop the present world population of six billion people. Immediately after the Flood, with only eight people and the whole world before them, with long life spans still prevailing, and with every incentive to have large families, the population surely would have grown explosively. Yet the average annual growth rate since the Flood need only have been one-fourth the present growth rate to produce the world's present population in the 4000 years (minimum) since that time.
All of which indicates that the evolutionary scenario, which assumes that human populations have been on the earth for about a million years, is absurd. The whole universe could not hold all the people!
HMM
http://www.irc.org/
Populations can grow very rapidly. For example, one can calculate that the seventy who came into Egypt with Jacob (Genesis 46:27) could easily have multiplied to over five million in just ten generations, assuming only that the average family had six children who lived and reproduced, and that only two generations were living contemporaneously at any one time. This was less than half the number in Jacob's immediate family. The actual count of the grown Israelite men (not including the tribe of Levi) who left Egypt with Moses was "six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty" (Numbers 1:46). The total population was probably between two and three million at the time.
This illustrates how rapidly populations can grow when conditions are favorable. In fact, if a simple geometric growth rate is assumed (which was the assumption made by Charles Darwin in relation to his imagined "struggle for existence" in nature), it would only take about 1100 years--assuming 35 years per generation--to develop the present world population of six billion people. Immediately after the Flood, with only eight people and the whole world before them, with long life spans still prevailing, and with every incentive to have large families, the population surely would have grown explosively. Yet the average annual growth rate since the Flood need only have been one-fourth the present growth rate to produce the world's present population in the 4000 years (minimum) since that time.
All of which indicates that the evolutionary scenario, which assumes that human populations have been on the earth for about a million years, is absurd. The whole universe could not hold all the people!
HMM
http://www.irc.org/
Monday, January 21, 2008
The Army of the Lord
A friend was in front of me coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door as he always is to shake hands. He grabbed my friend by the hand and pulled him aside.The Pastor said to him, "You need to join the Army of the Lord!"
My friend replied, "I'm already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor."
Pastor questioned, "How come I don't see you except at Christmas and Easter?"
He whispered back, "I'm in the secret service."
Source: Christian-Jokes.org (used with permission).
Sunday, January 20, 2008
What's "Today"?
Yesterday is history,
Tomorrow, a mystery,
Today, a gift thus the "the present".
Philippe Paquette
www.OkChrist.com
www.OkChrist.com
Saturday, January 19, 2008
The logic of faith by St. Thomas Aquinas
Background:St. Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274) was a Dominican priest, theologian, and philosopher. Called the Doctor Angelicus (the Angelic Doctor,) Aquinas is considered one the greatest Christian philosophers to have ever lived. Two of his most famous works, the Summa Theologiae and the Summa Contra Gentiles, are the finest examples of his work on Christian philosophy.
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"The truth of the Christian faith...surpasses the capacity of reason, nevertheless that truth that the human reason is naturally endowed to know can not be opposed to the truth of the Christian faith."
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1. First Way: The Argument From Motion
St. Thomas Aquinas, studying the works of the Greek philosopher Aristotle, concluded from common observation that an object that is in motion (e.g. the planets, a rolling stone) is put in motion by some other object or force. From this, Aquinas believes that ultimately there must have been an UNMOVED MOVER (GOD) who first put things in motion. Follow the argument this way:
1) Nothing can move itself.
2) If every object in motion had a mover, then the first object in motion needed a mover.
3) This first mover is the Unmoved Mover, called God.
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2. Second Way: Causation Of Existence
This Way deals with the issue of existence. Aquinas concluded that common sense observation tells us that no object creates itself. In other words, some previous object had to create it. Aquinas believed that ultimately there must have been an UN CAUSED FIRST CAUSE (GOD) who began the chain of existence for all things. Follow the argument this way:
1) There exists things that are caused (created) by other things.
2) Nothing can be the cause of itself (nothing can create itself.)
3) There can not be an endless string of objects causing other objects to exist.
4) Therefore, there must be an uncaused first cause called God.
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3. Third Way: Contingent and Necessary Objects
This Way defines two types of objects in the universe: contingent beings and necessary beings. A contingent being is an object that can not exist without a necessary being causing its existence. Aquinas believed that the existence of contingent beings would ultimately necessitate a being which must exist for all of the contingent beings to exist. This being, called a necessary being, is what we call God. Follow the argument this way:
1) Contingent beings are caused.
2) Not every being can be contingent.
3) There must exist a being which is necessary to cause contingent beings.
4) This necessary being is God.
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4. Fourth Way: Argument From Degrees And Perfection
St. Thomas formulated this Way from a very interesting observation about the qualities of things. For example one may say that of two marble sculptures one is more beautiful than the other. So for these two objects, one has a greater degree of beauty than the next. This is referred to as degrees or gradation of a quality. From this fact Aquinas concluded that for any given quality (e.g. goodness, beauty, knowledge) there must be a perfect standard by which all such qualities are measured. These perfections are contained in God.
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5. Fifth Way: The Argument From Intelligent Design
The final Way that St. Thomas Aquinas speaks of has to do with the observable universe and the order of nature. Aquinas states that common sense tells us that the universe works in such a way, that one can conclude that is was designed by an intelligent designer, God. In other words, all physical laws and the order of nature and life were designed and ordered by God, the intelligent designer.
Source: Paley's Teleological Argument.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
A view of other Religions
Here are links (Souce: BBC) to understand other Faith Systems other than "Christianity". See also our page on the differences between Christ and other Beleif Systems here: Navigation number 5 - His Differences - (see right of page) on http://www.okchrist.com/son/son_e.html.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Mary... did you know?
with permission from New Life Productions.
May you find a place in your hearts for the One that is called the "I Am" (see "Navigation" number 3 - His Divinity - top right upper corner) and blessings to you and your families.
Philippe Paquette
http://www.okchrist.com/
Philippe Paquette
http://www.okchrist.com/
Monday, November 19, 2007
The currrent history of Israel... for your consideration.
Size of Israel: 10,000 square miles (1/5th of Florida... or twice the size of Prince Edward Island in Canada).
Current population of Israel: 6.5 million
See the current history of Israel and Palistine... for your information.
See also the current demograpics of Israel.
Ethnic Makeup of Israel
Ethnic group Population
% of total
Jewish 76.0%
Arab 19.6%
Unaffiliated - many of which are Ethnically Jewish (some Christians) 4.3%
List of Jewish history topics here. List of Palestine history here.
Map of Israel and Palestine here.
For your information, www.OkChrist.com does not support the views of all the information in these links. Nevertheless, we believe them to be of interest for our viewers.
Multiple Charts explaining the Bible
To simplify the understanding of the Bible (and prophecy), you will find many excellent "charts", explaining the Holy Scriptures in "illustration format". Either click on the title of this Post or click on the following link: http://www.ebiblenotes.com/charts.htm With our appreciation to Bill from ebiblenotes.com.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Does the Universe Have a Purpose?
...extracts... Click on the Title for the full article.
Yes
...I am psychologically incapable of believing that the universe is meaningless। I believe the universe has a purpose, and our greatest intellectual challenge as human beings is to glimpse what this purpose might be
...In the deep mystery of God's vast creative experiment there may be many facets that we, in human terms, would relate to as purposes of the universe। I believe that, incredibly, this includes the creator's self-revelation though human intelligence and personalities. With God's experiment comes the freedom of choice, and I choose to believe in a purposeful universe.
My thoughtful atheistic friends who deny that the universe has any ultimate meaning are also men and women of faith। Perhaps intimidated by intimations of design, they seek to understand the universe in other ways। Ironically, they themselves may well be part of the purpose of the universe.
Owen Gingerich is Professor Emeritus of Astronomy and of the History of Science at Harvard University and a senior astronomer emeritus at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory।
A TEMPLETON CONVERSATION
...I am psychologically incapable of believing that the universe is meaningless। I believe the universe has a purpose, and our greatest intellectual challenge as human beings is to glimpse what this purpose might be
...In the deep mystery of God's vast creative experiment there may be many facets that we, in human terms, would relate to as purposes of the universe। I believe that, incredibly, this includes the creator's self-revelation though human intelligence and personalities. With God's experiment comes the freedom of choice, and I choose to believe in a purposeful universe.
My thoughtful atheistic friends who deny that the universe has any ultimate meaning are also men and women of faith। Perhaps intimidated by intimations of design, they seek to understand the universe in other ways। Ironically, they themselves may well be part of the purpose of the universe.
Owen Gingerich is Professor Emeritus of Astronomy and of the History of Science at Harvard University and a senior astronomer emeritus at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory।
A TEMPLETON CONVERSATION
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
"Very Good"... no more death...
"And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day" (Genesis 1:31).
On several occasions during the Creation Week, God had declared aspects of His creation as "good" (vv.10,12, 18,21,25). But once His crown of creation was in place, the very image of Himself (vv.26-27), He pronounced it all "very good" and ceased His creative activity (2:1-3).
Just what does it mean to be "very good" in God's eyes? This term is used elsewhere in the Old Testament by men and regarding men, but here God Himself, the sinless, ever-living One, declares creation to be just what He wanted--able to accomplish and fulfill each of His plans and desires for it. Whatever else may be said about this creation, it, at the very least, must have been without death, being a phenomenon anathema to Him.
Death is identified as "The last enemy that shall be destroyed" (I Corinthians 15:26).
"Death reigned from Adam to Moses" (Romans 5:14), and "it is appointed unto men once to die" (Hebrews 9:27). Indeed, "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Romans 8:22). The source of this condition is known as the curse pronounced on all of creation due to man's rebellion against God (Genesis 3) as had been promised (2:17). Even today "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), and since all sin, all must die. Truly, sin has ruined God's original sinless, deathless, "very good" creation.
But the story does not end there. The very Creator who pronounced the awful curse of death as the penalty for sin has Himself died to pay that penalty and one day will repeal the curse (Revelation 22:3) and abolish death (21:4). The creation will be returned to its original created intent, and all will once again be "very good."
JDM
INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH
http://www.icr.org/
On several occasions during the Creation Week, God had declared aspects of His creation as "good" (vv.10,12, 18,21,25). But once His crown of creation was in place, the very image of Himself (vv.26-27), He pronounced it all "very good" and ceased His creative activity (2:1-3).
Just what does it mean to be "very good" in God's eyes? This term is used elsewhere in the Old Testament by men and regarding men, but here God Himself, the sinless, ever-living One, declares creation to be just what He wanted--able to accomplish and fulfill each of His plans and desires for it. Whatever else may be said about this creation, it, at the very least, must have been without death, being a phenomenon anathema to Him.
Death is identified as "The last enemy that shall be destroyed" (I Corinthians 15:26).
"Death reigned from Adam to Moses" (Romans 5:14), and "it is appointed unto men once to die" (Hebrews 9:27). Indeed, "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Romans 8:22). The source of this condition is known as the curse pronounced on all of creation due to man's rebellion against God (Genesis 3) as had been promised (2:17). Even today "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), and since all sin, all must die. Truly, sin has ruined God's original sinless, deathless, "very good" creation.
But the story does not end there. The very Creator who pronounced the awful curse of death as the penalty for sin has Himself died to pay that penalty and one day will repeal the curse (Revelation 22:3) and abolish death (21:4). The creation will be returned to its original created intent, and all will once again be "very good."
JDM
INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH
http://www.icr.org/
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
It's in the Bible
There was a christian lady that had to do a lot of traveling for her business, so she did a lot of flying. Flying made her very, very nervous, so she always took her Bible along with her to read as it helped relax her on the long flights.
One time, she was sitting next to a man.
When he saw her pull out her Bible, he gave a little chuckle and smirk and went back to what he was doing.
After awhile, he turned to her and asked, "You don't really believe all that stuff in there do you?"
The lady replied, "Of course I do. It is the Bible."
He said, "Well, what about that guy that was swallowed by that whale?"
She replied, "Oh, Jonah. Yes, I believe that, it is in the Bible."
He asked, "Well, how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the whale?"
The lady said, "Well, I don't really know. I guess when I get to heaven, I will ask him."
"What if he isn't in heaven?" the man asked sarcastically.
"Then you can ask him," replied the lady.
Author is Unknown
One time, she was sitting next to a man.
When he saw her pull out her Bible, he gave a little chuckle and smirk and went back to what he was doing.
After awhile, he turned to her and asked, "You don't really believe all that stuff in there do you?"
The lady replied, "Of course I do. It is the Bible."
He said, "Well, what about that guy that was swallowed by that whale?"
She replied, "Oh, Jonah. Yes, I believe that, it is in the Bible."
He asked, "Well, how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the whale?"
The lady said, "Well, I don't really know. I guess when I get to heaven, I will ask him."
"What if he isn't in heaven?" the man asked sarcastically.
"Then you can ask him," replied the lady.
Author is Unknown
Saturday, October 27, 2007
No More Tears
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4).
Surely this is one of the most glorious promises in the Bible! No more suffering, no more sorrow, no more death! In this present life, in this present world, every one of us must endure suffering and sorrow in various degrees, and eventually death. But our gracious Savior "hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows" and because "the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. . . . He was cut off out of the land of the living" (Isaiah 53:4,6,8), and He endured for us the awful suffering of death on the cross.
In dying, however, He defeated death, rose from the grave, and is now alive "for evermore" (Revelation 1:18). Thus He can promise immortal physical bodies that will never die again to all who trust Him.
How can He do such a thing? He "shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself" (Philippians 3:21). "The dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (I Corinthians 15:52).
The believers of pre-Christian days will also share in these blessings. The prophet Isaiah recorded a beautiful promise to them, as well as us, hundreds of years before Christ came to make it possible. "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: . . . And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him . . . we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation" (Isaiah 25:8-9).
HMM
INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH
http://icr.org/
Surely this is one of the most glorious promises in the Bible! No more suffering, no more sorrow, no more death! In this present life, in this present world, every one of us must endure suffering and sorrow in various degrees, and eventually death. But our gracious Savior "hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows" and because "the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. . . . He was cut off out of the land of the living" (Isaiah 53:4,6,8), and He endured for us the awful suffering of death on the cross.
In dying, however, He defeated death, rose from the grave, and is now alive "for evermore" (Revelation 1:18). Thus He can promise immortal physical bodies that will never die again to all who trust Him.
How can He do such a thing? He "shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself" (Philippians 3:21). "The dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (I Corinthians 15:52).
The believers of pre-Christian days will also share in these blessings. The prophet Isaiah recorded a beautiful promise to them, as well as us, hundreds of years before Christ came to make it possible. "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: . . . And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him . . . we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation" (Isaiah 25:8-9).
HMM
INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH
http://icr.org/
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Could this be the "mark" of Revelation? The RFID chip on humans
The medical procedure here. 
Revelation 14 (New International Version)
"A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury... there is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."
Please note that the following link was banned on OkChrist.com. We have kept the link there so you can get the feeling of the reality out there. Ck it out.
(The first link was banned by YouTube - click the return button to come back here).
Their control uses these words: "This video has been removed due to terms of use violation. " That is false. It's just "control on the masses".
Banned in USA - View this amazing video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhs64JnfC8c&eurl=http://widget-26.slide.com/widgets/sf.swf
Monday, October 15, 2007
Welcome to www.OkChrist.com
In this Blog, we will attempt to present different topics related to Christian contemporary and spiritual issues and we strongly encourage you to comment and to participate.
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