Hollywood Prayer Network Newsletter (apr 2011)

Dear HPN members!

HAPPY EASTER! April is the month in 2011 for celebrating the glorious Resurrection of our Lord! Let’s invite our friends and family, no matter what they believe, to join us as we gather this Easter. It’s the perfect day to reach out to all those people around us who may have no plans next Sunday. Have a joyful time together! Let’s also pray for the people in entertainment community who have no idea what this day means. May God bring Christians to them to explain why it’s such an incredible time of year!

SUMMARY:

• HPN praises God for His faithfulness and for supplying our daily bread!
• Continue to pray for Charlie Sheen • Continue to pray for Justin Bieber http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/content/prayer-justin-bieber
• Pray for the 64th annual Cannes Film Festival coming up this May
• We thank God for the many Christians He has placed here as salt and light
• The television Execs are headed toward the annual UPFRONTS this month
• HPN wants our pray-ers to understand how destructive “celebrity” can be
• Pray for the new Christians who come into town to pursue a career
• Please pray for the Christians who are working successfully in the industry
• We are thankful for Bernie, in Illinois, who supports our passion
• Sign up with RALPHS Grocery Store so that they will donate 2% to HPN
• Join the Christian community on Thurs., May 5th for the National Day of Prayer
• Check us out on Facebook and become our Friend!

PRAISE:
• We praise God for His faithfulness. It has been the driest financial time for HPN in 10 years. And yet, we know that God is faithful and will continue to be so. We just received a miraculous donation from a dear friend. God chose to supply this for us, in the perfect time, and the perfect amount for that moment. We should never question His provision, His timing or His intimate care for us! Let’s keep praying for more miracles where only God can get the glory!

UPDATES:
• Continue to pray for Charlie Sheen, as he travels the country doing press interviews, and live shows about his life. He is a broken man who needs the love and protection of the Lord, not a platform to discuss his brokenness. Let’s ask God to work a miracle in his life, to surround him with solid believers who can help him find truth, love and for protection from those who take advantage of his vulnerability. Please pray as you read this article.

• Continue to pray for Justin Bieber, whose mom, Pattie, is so thankful for our prayers. He has been getting some trouble from the press lately and they are feeling the pressure of being in the limelight as they travel through the Holy Land. (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/justin-bieber-says-besieged-paparazzi-israel-20110412-100439-634.html) Justin is only 17 and needs our prayers to stay on course and in the palm of the Lord’s loving and wise hand. To hear Pattie’s heart for prayer, click HERE: At the bottom of that page find our Twitter Link and tweet a prayer for Justin!

REQUESTS:
• Pray for the 64th annual Cannes Film Festival coming up this May 11 – 22nd in Cannes France. It is one of the world’s largest International Film Festivals and is attended by some of America’s most known film professionals. There are often Christians there who have a heart to reach out to those film stars who are often unapproachable here in Hollywood. Let’s pray for the hearts of the people attending, for the Lord to touch those who win and lose awards, and for the atmosphere to be full of the love of Jesus. For more information on the event click HERE.

• We thank God for the many Christians He has placed as salt and light throughout our industry. There are more committed believers in Hollywood than anyone outside our community realizes. So be encouraged and thank God with us for all He is doing here. We praise God this month for our friend Glen Keane, a Disney animator who has impacted every one of us through his work in creating Ariel, Tarzan, Pocahontas, Aladdin, The Beast and Rapunzel, to name only a few. He is a loving, generous Christian man who is a powerful example of Jesus in the workplace. Read this recent article on Glen in Christianity Today.

• The television Execs are headed toward the annual UPFRONTS this month: All the major networks are preparing for their meetings in NYC May 15 – 19th, where most of the major program sponsorship decisions for the new Fall TV season will be made. The UPFRONTS are when networks announce their new primetime schedules in a live show, including clips, sometimes extravagant musical numbers, comedic scenes and appearances by TV stars. The purpose for this event is to allow marketers, or sponsors, to buy commercial airtime “up front,” or several months before the TV season begins. Pray for the decisions made and for the decision-makers to have wisdom during this time. To read more about UPFRONTS click HERE.

• HPN wants our pray-ers to understand how destructive “celebrity” can be for most people. It is a curse more than a blessing. We don’t want to judge celebrities for their choices, but instead we want to pray that the Lord will protect them as they try to live a life of no privacy, full of gossip, pressure from fans, and excess that is hard to handle. We ask that you pray this month for the women who have won “Best Actress” Academy Awards, for they often find that their personal lives fall apart soon after winning their Oscar. For an interesting perspective click HERE.

• Pray for the new Christians who come into town to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and soon question whether they are meant to be here, if they have the talent needed to break in, or if it is even God’s desire for them to be here at all. What does a Christian do when they think they’ve been “called” to Hollywood, but nothing is working out? That’s a tough question that hundreds of people are asking every day as they try to pay their rent. Would you pray for the Christians to have wisdom to know what God’s BEST plan is for them? Click HERE to get a writer’s perspective.

• Please pray for Christians who are working successfully in the industry, and also standing strong in their faith. They have their own struggles that give them unique challenges. Let’s pray that they can balance their work with their personal lives and ministry, and be eternally effective in all areas. One person, our friend Mako Fujimura, is an artist in New York City and he is having not only an impact in the culture, but also in the lives of the people around him as he lives his life as a father, husband, artist, minister and friend. Click HERE to learn more about Mako as you pray for him and for other professionals like him.

FROM HPN MEMBERS:
• We are thankful for Bernie, from Illinois, who has graciously posted an article stating our passion for more men to be intercessors through our HPN “I to I” Prayer Partnership Program (http://hollywoodprayernetwork.org/new/I-to-I). We would love to have you read Bernie’s support of HPN and his desire to have more men who will pray and provide encouragement to more male Christian leaders in our community. HERE is the link to “MEN WANTED…”:

OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE:
• HPN is officially partnering with RALPHS Grocery Store. They have graciously agreed to donate 2% of any participant’s total grocery bill to our ministry – at NO cost to you. Please sign up with Ralphs (which includes Kroger and Foodforless) in order to have them donate to us. This is a great way to help us raise funds, just by food shopping. We'd love to have you register. Just click on the Ralphs website HERE then scroll down to PARTICIPANT and click on “ENROLL” to sign up. You can either get a Ralphs card (which gives you discounts every time you shop) or just connect the HPN account to your existing Ralphs Card and you will automatically donate a minimum of 2% of your purchases to HPN! We would SOOOO appreciate your support. Our ministry is listed either by our title: Hollywood Prayer Network, or by our Ralph's Org. #: 92945. You will also benefit through the Ralphs discounts the card provides. Thank you so much for helping us. We deeply appreciate your effort to take this step of support.

• Check us out on Facebook and become our Friend! Click here and let us know who you’re praying for in the global entertainment industry: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2252979785

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• HPN’s friend and member Sandra Lord hosts the popular, award-winning Hollywood Networking Breakfast on the last Thurs. of every month. Sandra has been faithfully connecting industry professionals and providing access to top Hollywood players through her breakfasts for over 17 years. Join them on April 28th at: http://www.changingimagesinamerica.org/hnindex.htm

• Come join the Christian community on Thursday night, May 5th for the National Day of Prayer. Find a gathering in your area or if you’re in the Hollywood area, come to Bel Air Presbyterian Church at 7:30 – 9pm for a wonderful celebration of our nation, our state, our city and the entertainment industry. For more info click HERE.

• If you want to go through one of Act One's summer training programs (Writing, Producing) you need to get in touch with them ASAP, as the deadline is fast approaching. Act One is entering it's 13th summer of top-notch training programs for Christians desiring to work in the mainstream entertainment industry. Check them out at www.actoneprogram.com, or contact them at info@actoneprogram.com or 323-464-0815.

• Arts & Entertainment Ministries is now accepting applications for their upcoming A&E Institute, equipping artists and creative professionals to think, live and create from a Christian worldview. To find out more, click HERE.

• As a special partner of Life Fest, our organization is able to offer our friends a FREE pass to TOMORROW’s (Saturday April 16) first-ever pro-life film festival being held in the LA Convention Center. (West Hall) 1201 S. Figueroa St. LA, CA 90015. Say you are a friend of HPN at the festival to get your FREE ticket. For more info about the festival, go to www.lifefilmfest.com

• For a list of other events happening in the Christian community, click HERE

Thanks so much for praying and keep praising God during this Easter season!

In Him,
Karen and Caren

-----------------------------------
TIP OF THE MONTH:
Even secular Grammy winners believe that they were “called” into this industry and get very spiritual about their careers. We’re all hungry for God and we want His approval. Click on “God at the Grammys: The Chosen Ones"

QUOTE OF THE MONTH in honor of her passing:
It is strange that the years teach us patience; that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting. ~Elizabeth Taylor

VERSE OF THE MONTH in honor of the National Day of Prayer:
“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2

This message was sent from:
Hollywood Prayer Network
1763 N. Gower St.
Hollywood, CA 90028
United States

http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/

© Copyright 2007 Hollywood Prayer Network

Is the World Falling Apart?

(from Perry Stone, Voice of Evangelism ministries)

Recently on the national news a commentator asked the question, “Is the world falling apart?” He was commenting on the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the revolutions and uprisings in the Middle East, and the economic woes in America. The world is not falling apart, but the nations are experiencing a shaking that will eventually rearrange the world into a division that will open the door in time to come for the Biblical antichrist to take his throne.

The Egyptian revolution was allegedly about “democracy and economic opportunity.” When the dust was settled, there were no more jobs and there were still food shortages. Things became worse after the former President was expelled. When President Obama went on worldwide television and said that President Mubarak should step down, in the eyes of the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Obama actually dishonored the Egyptian President.

We must learn to spend quality time in the presence of God and believe that He is with us and has never left His people, and will continue to be with His people through the good and the bad.

This is something that is seen as the greatest act of disrespect in the Arab world. Since that time, the king of Saudi Arabia has turned his attention to both China and Russia, opening discussions with these two nations. I have read from inside sources that Mubarak has refused to take Obama’s phone calls since his departure from Cairo. There is now a great rift in the Gulf region between the kings of the Gulf and the U.S. administration. By overthrowing the leader of the nation, it creates a huge void and a question about who will take the leader’s place.

As I will be sharing in the weeks ahead in some of our major meetings, I believe this Middle East shaking is going to prepare these nations for the rise of the beast of Biblical prophecy. These nations that are revolting will soon realize that their newly appointed governments will not be successful in solving the problems. Eventually, one man will unite these disillusioned nations with his plan to solve the problems by defeating and conquering what he claims will be the “source” of the problem: Israel and the Jews. Then the world will enter into the time of tribulation predicted by the Biblical prophets.

We have been forewarned about the events occurring in the time of the end, and how that the times will become perilous and men’s heats will fail them for fear of looking after what is coming upon the earth. We must learn to spend quality time in the presence of God and believe that He is with us and has never left His people, and will continue to be with His people through the good and the bad. Always keep the end goal—heaven—on your mind. That thought is enough to encourage even the most discouraged person!

-Perry Stone
www.voe.org
www.perrystone.org

http://www.voe.org/Prophecy-Update/is-the-world-falling-apart.html

©2008 - 2010 Perry Stone Ministries

U.S. Senate to Vote on De-Funding Planned Parenthood and the Obama Health Care Law

UPDATE

Via NRLC (National Right to Life)(April 14, 2011) -- The U.S. Senate today defeated a bill to cut off federal funds to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), by a vote of 42 in favor to 58 opposed. The roll call is here.

The Senate also defeated a measure to cut off federal funds to implement the Obama health care law, by a party-line vote of 47 in favor and 53 opposed. The roll call is here.

**********************************************************************************
WASHINGTON (April 12, 2011) -- The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on Thursday, April 14, or Friday, April 15, on two special bills that are strongly supported by National Right to Life. Please follow the guidance below to call the offices of your two U.S. senators immediately to urge them to support these bills.

The first Senate vote will occur on House Concurrent Resolution 35, which would remove funding for the entire Obama health care law that was enacted in 2010. The Obama health care law contains multiple provisions that will, if fully implemented, result in government-imposed rationing of lifesaving medical care. In addition, the Obama health care law contains multiple provisions authorizing funding of abortion and funding of health plans that cover abortion.

The second Senate vote will occur on House Concurrent Resolution 36, which would cut off federal funds to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its affiliates. (This bill is similar to the Pence Amendment that was adopted by the House of Representatives on February 19; this will be the first time that the Senate has voted on this issue.) PPFA is the nation’s largest abortion provider, reporting 332,278 abortions in 2009. It appears that abortion accounts for roughly one-third of the aggregate income generated by PPFA-affiliated clinics.

For more information on these two issues, please see the letter sent to the Senate by National Right to Life on April 12, posted here. (Note: The Senate cannot vote on the two bills until after the House of Representatives passes them, but that is likely to happen on April 14.)

Please call your senators today! Simply use the "Take Action Now" or "Call Now" box in this alert. When you enter your zip code, you will be shown the correct phone numbers to call for your two U.S. senators. You will also be shown a few short suggested "talking points" to use in your conversations with the senators' staff persons. In addition, you will be given an opportunity to easily send a short e-mail to National Right to Life, if you wish to do so, to report on how your call went.

Please call today, and ask your like-minded friends to do the same!

http://www.nrlc.org/

Manna Fest w/Perry Stone - Understanding Difficult Sayings of Jesus & Prophetic Objects from the Time of Christ

In "Understanding the Difficult Sayings of Jesus" (from 2010) Perry teaches from Israel about some of the sayings of Jesus that can be difficult to understand. In modern times, we don't have the same knowledge of certain sayings that people would have been familiar with in the time of Christ. So, Perry explains what it all means.

Video Link: http://media.voe.org/2213953

In "Prophetic Objects from the Time of Christ" (from 2009) Perry again is teaching from Israel. He gives us a tour of different places and shows us some objects from the time of Christ which Jesus and John the Baptist spoke of in the Bible; particularly in Matthew 24, 25. This gives us a visual image of those items.

Video Link: http://voe.sermon.tv/2213888

www.perrystone.org
www.voe.org

Jack Van Impe Presents: President Obama's Faith

Jack and Rexella Van Impe address the issue of President Barack Obama's faith. Why do 50% of Americans question if Obama really is a Christian? Is he a Christian or not? What does he believe in? Jack Van Impe sets the record straight. Now, I was not one of those people that said 'Oh he's not a Christian' because I really didn't know. But, I did question it. After seeing this program which addresses the issue, which shows quotes from Obama himself, it is clear that Obama is not professing true Christianity. It appears that Obama either isn't sure on what the Bible teaches and doesn't understand what it takes to be saved, or he does know and simply rejects it.

In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, he was asked what he believes in. He said, "I'm rooted in the Christian tradition, but there are many paths to the same place, heaven." (True Christianity teaches that there is only way way to Heaven and that is Jesus John 14:6). Later, when asked if he believes in heaven, he said, "I don't presume to have knowledge about what happens after I die." (True Christianity teaches that there is indeed a very real place called Heaven and that if you are saved then you can have confidence that you will go there). When asked who Jesus is to him, he said: "A historical figure, a bridge between God and man, a wonderful teacher." (Okay, but what about Lord and Savior of the world? Actually, come to think of it, sounds like a mix of different religious beliefs in there). In USA Today, he said, "I can't accept the idea of hell. I don't respect the bigotry of the Apostle Paul in the Book of Romans." (There are hundreds of instances in the Bible where it mentions hell. Jesus taught and warned that hell is a real place and that many people go there. The Apostle Paul wasn't a bigot at all. All he did was preach the Word as he was moved by the Holy Spirit).

What Obama is saying is not Christianity at all. His grandparents, who spent part of Obama's life raising him, were Baptists/Methodists and turned to the unitarian church later in life. The unitarian church does not teach Biblical doctrine. None of this surprises me now. What is the point in all of this? The ultimate point is that we need to pray for Obama and his family. I don't know his heart and I don't know him personally, but it's obvious from his statements that he is way off.

Part 1


Part 2


http://www.jvim.com

Ezekiel 38 & 39: Prophecy of the Future

Ezekiel 38

A Message for Gog

1 This is another message that came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of man, turn and face Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. 3 Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: Gog, I am your enemy! 4 I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws to lead you out with your whole army—your horses and charioteers in full armor and a great horde armed with shields and swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya[a] will join you, too, with all their weapons. 6 Gomer and all its armies will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah from the distant north, and many others.

7 “Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. 8 A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be enjoying peace after recovering from war and after its people have returned from many lands to the mountains of Israel. 9 You and all your allies—a vast and awesome army—will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land like a cloud.

10 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: At that time evil thoughts will come to your mind, and you will devise a wicked scheme. 11 You will say, ‘Israel is an unprotected land filled with unwalled villages! I will march against her and destroy these people who live in such confidence! 12 I will go to those formerly desolate cities that are now filled with people who have returned from exile in many nations. I will capture vast amounts of plunder, for the people are rich with livestock and other possessions now. They think the whole world revolves around them!’ 13 But Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish will ask, ‘Do you really think the armies you have gathered can rob them of silver and gold? Do you think you can drive away their livestock and seize their goods and carry off plunder?’

14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: When my people are living in peace in their land, then you will rouse yourself.[b] 15 You will come from your homeland in the distant north with your vast cavalry and your mighty army, 16 and you will attack my people Israel, covering their land like a cloud. At that time in the distant future, I will bring you against my land as everyone watches, and my holiness will be displayed by what happens to you, Gog. Then all the nations will know that I am the Lord.

17 “This is what the Sovereign Lord asks: Are you the one I was talking about long ago, when I announced through Israel’s prophets that in the future I would bring you against my people? 18 But this is what the Sovereign Lord says: When Gog invades the land of Israel, my fury will boil over! 19 In my jealousy and blazing anger, I promise a mighty shaking in the land of Israel on that day. 20 All living things—the fish in the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the people on earth—will quake in terror at my presence. Mountains will be thrown down; cliffs will crumble; walls will fall to the earth. 21 I will summon the sword against you on all the hills of Israel, says the Sovereign Lord. Your men will turn their swords against each other. 22 I will punish you and your armies with disease and bloodshed; I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur! 23 In this way, I will show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Footnotes: Ezekiel 38:5 Hebrew Paras, Cush, and Put.
Ezekiel 38:14 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads then you will know.


Ezekiel 39


The Slaughter of Gog’s Hordes

“Son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am your enemy, O Gog, ruler of the nations of Meshech and Tubal. 2 I will turn you around and drive you toward the mountains of Israel, bringing you from the distant north. 3 I will knock the bow from your left hand and the arrows from your right hand, and I will leave you helpless. 4 You and your army and your allies will all die on the mountains. I will feed you to the vultures and wild animals. 5 You will fall in the open fields, for I have spoken, says the Sovereign Lord. 6 And I will rain down fire on Magog and on all your allies who live safely on the coasts. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

7 “In this way, I will make known my holy name among my people of Israel. I will not let anyone bring shame on it. And the nations, too, will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. 8 That day of judgment will come, says the Sovereign Lord. Everything will happen just as I have declared it.

9 “Then the people in the towns of Israel will go out and pick up your small and large shields, bows and arrows, javelins and spears, and they will use them for fuel. There will be enough to last them seven years! 10 They won’t need to cut wood from the fields or forests, for these weapons will give them all the fuel they need. They will plunder those who planned to plunder them, and they will rob those who planned to rob them, says the Sovereign Lord.

11 “And I will make a vast graveyard for Gog and his hordes in the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Dead Sea.[a] It will block the way of those who travel there, and they will change the name of the place to the Valley of Gog’s Hordes. 12 It will take seven months for the people of Israel to bury the bodies and cleanse the land. 13 Everyone in Israel will help, for it will be a glorious victory for Israel when I demonstrate my glory on that day, says the Sovereign Lord.

14 “After seven months, teams of men will be appointed to search the land for skeletons to bury, so the land will be made clean again. 15 Whenever bones are found, a marker will be set up so the burial crews will take them to be buried in the Valley of Gog’s Hordes. 16 (There will be a town there named Hamonah, which means ‘horde.’) And so the land will finally be cleansed.

17 “And now, son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Call all the birds and wild animals. Say to them: Gather together for my great sacrificial feast. Come from far and near to the mountains of Israel, and there eat flesh and drink blood! 18 Eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of princes as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all fattened animals from Bashan! 19 Gorge yourselves with flesh until you are glutted; drink blood until you are drunk. This is the sacrificial feast I have prepared for you. 20 Feast at my banquet table—feast on horses and charioteers, on mighty men and all kinds of valiant warriors, says the Sovereign Lord.

21 “In this way, I will demonstrate my glory to the nations. Everyone will see the punishment I have inflicted on them and the power of my fist when I strike. 22 And from that time on the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. 23 The nations will then know why Israel was sent away to exile—it was punishment for sin, for they were unfaithful to their God. Therefore, I turned away from them and let their enemies destroy them. 24 I turned my face away and punished them because of their defilement and their sins.
Restoration for God’s People
25 “So now, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will end the captivity of my people[b]; I will have mercy on all Israel, for I jealously guard my holy reputation! 26 They will accept responsibility for their past shame and unfaithfulness after they come home to live in peace in their own land, with no one to bother them. 27 When I bring them home from the lands of their enemies, I will display my holiness among them for all the nations to see. 28 Then my people will know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them away to exile and brought them home again. I will leave none of my people behind. 29 And I will never again turn my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit upon the people of Israel. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

Footnotes: Ezekiel 39:11 Hebrew the sea.
Ezekiel 39:25 Hebrew of Jacob.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

If you mess with Israel, you will face God's wrath.

Hidden Meanings Revealed in the First Verse of the Bible

The first verse of the Bible is Genesis 1:1, which says: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."


Taking the Hebrew letter pictographs and translating those meanings from the first verse of the Bible (which was originally written in Hebrew) it says this: "The Son of God will be destroyed (or killed) by his own hand on a cross."


"In the beginning (time) God created the heavens (space) and the earth (matter). Scientists now know that the basic components or makeup of the universe are time, space and matter. However, the Genesis 1:1 text revealed this over 2000 years before scientists determined this to be true.

7 is a number that is used in the Bible to represent completion or perfection. In the world there are 7 continents, 7 oceans, 7 colors in a rainbow, 7 notes on a musical scale, 7 stars in the Big Dipper which has been used to point to the Northern Star aka Guiding Star since the most ancient of times, 7 objects in our solar system are visible to the naked eye (sun moon mars mercury jupiter venus saturn), 7 digits in a row has been proven over and over to be the average limit of memory for most human beings, 7 metals of antiquity upon which civilization was based (lead tin copper mercury silver gold), periodic table of elements consists of 7 distinct levels, and on and on the 7's in the world around us go, each representing God's divine touch of completion. Genesis 1:1 contains 10 words in the English, but in the original Hebrew there are 7 words with 7 features of the number 7.

Abortion and Birth Control: an Agenda for Black Genocide?

This is a controversial subject. The idea that organizations such as Planned Parenthood could be tied to such "conspiracies" as black genocide and attempting to wipe out "unfit" people and races is a large claim. But, is there any truth to this? I often receive "Defund Planned Parenthood" action alert petitions through my email from various Christian and anti-abortion organizations. But, why Planned Parenthood? What are they doing that is so wrong? Do they even perform abortions at their centers? Oddly enough, in my speech class a young man gave his "persuasive speech" presentation on supporting Planned Parenthood/Family Planning. He made it a point to assure the class that the organization 100% in no way performs abortions at their clinics. Then, why do I get so many action alerts from these Christian and anti-abortion organizations? What is the connection? Well, although I have heard that Planned Parenthood does not perform abortions at their clinics, the actual Planned Parenthood website tells otherwise. Their website states that "abortions are available at many Planned Parenthood health centers, clinics, and the offices of private health care providers." So, yes, there is an obvious connection with abortion. They of course also offer various forms of birth control. I also noticed that the language they use on their website concerning the question of abortions for those who are under 18 comes across as pretty swaying. It's as if they are encouraging those who are under 18 and want an abortion to make that possible. However, the history of Planned Parenthood goes back much further to a very controversial past, beginning with its founder Margaret Sanger and connection to the Eugenics movement in early 20th century America. This is where the idea of black genocide and eugenics comes in. In order to understand these claims a study on the history of the organization and origin of birth control contraceptives needs to be given a deeper look.

What is eugenics? The word "eugenes" is Greek and means "well-born." The term "eugenics" was coined in 1883 by English scientist Francis Galton. Eugenics is "the study of methods of improving the quality of the human race, especially by selective breeding" (Dictionary.com). A more detailed description explains that eugenics is "the study of or belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population, especially by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits (negative eugenics) or encouraging reproduction by persons presumed to have inheritable desirable traits (positive eugenics)" (Random House Dictionary). An outright blatant definition of eugenics is "the study of hereditary improvement of the human race by controlled selective breeding" (American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary).

Maafa 21 is a project by Life Dynamics, an anti-abortion organization, that believes in the existence of a 150 year agenda to end the black population in America through abortion and birth control. “Maafa” (ma-a’fa) is Swahili for “tragedy” or “disaster.” “21” is for the 21st century. Hence, Maafa 21.

Whatever the claims, a look into the history of these organizations and their current practices should at least make one question if there is an agenda of genocide or the attempt to control the breeding of a part of the population. Is it factual and does the agenda still live on today, whether knowingly or unknowingly, by those involved within those systems?

Rod Parsley and Maafa 21 Expose Black Genocide from Abortion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kb3jg4IesQ
http://orders.rodparsley.com/Order_First.aspx?ostr=EWb385ahcCo%3d&gl=1

Maafa 21 Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLnNi_qb7nY
http://www.maafa21.com/
http://www.lifedynamics.com/

Abortion: Black Genocide in 21st Century America (Part 1/13)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B2YG7vtwXA&feature=related

Maafa 21 The History of Eugenics In America Part 1 of 13

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASrFufnMNDg

Copyright © 2011 • Breakthrough with Rod Parsley • All Rights Reserved.

Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update for week of april 8, 2011

The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:10–11

Saudi Arabia—Eritrean Believer Faces Possible Death Sentence—Release Eritrea

Psalm 5:11
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.

An Eritrean Christian faces a possible death sentence after being accused of preaching to Muslims outside a mosque in Saudi Arabia. Mussie Eyob, who converted to Christianity two years ago, was arrested at a mosque in the Haya Roda area on Feb. 12 and is being held at a high-security prison in Jeddah. Officials initially thought Mussie was mentally ill, but a medical examination found him to be in good mental health. Mussie’s family visited him on March 20 and found that although he had lost weight, he was being treated well and was in good spirits. Mussie began preaching at the Eritrean Embassy on Feb. 9 before moving on to the local mosque days later. Pray that God will soften the hearts of Saudi officials toward Mussie and that he will not be sentenced to death. Praise God for Mussie’s boldness.

Egypt—Christian Convert Escapes Egypt—VOM Canada

2 Corinthians 1:8–9
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

An Egyptian man who has been in hiding for two-and-a-half years fled the country recently with his daughter. Maher El-Gohary, 58, had been in hiding since August 2008, when he filed a suit requesting to change the religious status on his ID card from Muslim to Christian. He and his daughter, Dina Mo’otahssem, 17, flew from Cairo to Syria in February. Maher had hoped to obtain a visa to the United States, where his wife lives, but he tried for one week and was unsuccessful. He then sought assistance at a U.N. office in Syria and was granted an appointment for late April. Although Maher and Dina are safer in Syria than they were in Egypt, they still spend much of their time in their apartment because converts from Islam to Christianity are persecuted in Syria. Maher has no income, so he and his daughter have difficulty obtaining basic necessities. During this time of struggle, Maher continues to acknowledge God’s enduring care. “Without God’s love, we would have been dead by now,” he said. Thank the Lord for the ways in which he has provided for Maher and Dina. Pray that they will continue to rely on his strength and not on their own.

Belarus—Pastor Charged After Church Raid—Forum 18 News

1 Peter 5:10
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

On Feb. 13, police raided a Baptist church in Gomel, Belarus, and charged the pastor with “holding an unauthorized religious service.” The pastor, Nikolai Varushin, faces a fine of up to $345 if found guilty. The police major in charge of the raid said police had received repeated complaints about the church from nearby residents. Police officers filmed the worship service and confiscated CDs, audio cassettes of sermons and religious literature. In January 2008, Pastor Varushin was fined for leading an unregistered religious organization. Pray that the congregation will remain steadfast in faith as they undergo this trial.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Manna Fest w/Perry Stone - Guarding the Threshold of Your House

Video Link: http://voe.sermon.tv/Manna_fest/2221750

Perry teaches on ridding the house of sin and overcoming the enemy by applying the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. This is receiving Jesus into your heart and confessing He is your Lord. Perry uses Scripture and historical references to explain the processes that the ancient Israelites would do, through God's instructions, to purge their homes of sin and guard the threshold of their homes from evil. House here refers to both the physical house and the temple of the Holy Spirit (your Christian self). The heart is an entrance way to either good things or evil things. "You need to know where you stand with the Lord...if you've never found peace with God, if you've never accepted a redemptive covenant that forgives you of your sin and guarantees you with eternal life find Christ today and call on His Name."

1) Inspect the house.
2) Sanctify the house by applying the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony.
3) Guard the doorway.

www.voe.org

Creation in the 21st Century - Crunch the Numbers

Carl Baugh talks in his studio with John Heffner. They put the theory of evolution to the test of mathematics. http://www.creationevidence.org/

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


© 2008 by CEM. All Rights Reserved. www.creationevidence.org
For non-commercial, educational use only.

Clear Israel’s Name: Withdraw Flawed Report

(from ACLJ.org) It was a rush to judgment - a deeply flawed report accusing Israel of war crimes in a conflict in Gaza in 2009.

As Israel launched a defensive military operation against Hamas terrorists who were killing innocent Israeli civilians, the international community criticized Israel - and an error-filled investigative ''Goldstone Report'' was issued, claiming Israel was guilty of war crimes.

Friday, the author of the Goldstone Report, Judge Richard Goldstone, recanted his initial findings - making it clear that Israel did nothing wrong in defending itself and never intended to target civilians in the conflict. It is Hamas, not Israel, that has a policy of attacking innocent civilians.

So today the ACLJ - along with its international affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) - is calling on the United Nations (U.N.) to rescind the report.

Stand with the ACLJ and demand that the U.N. rescind this erroneous report without delay. Sign our online Petition to Rescind the Goldstone Report now.

Judge Goldstone's stunning reversal clearly underscores the fact that it is time to put this deeply flawed and biased report to rest. From the very beginning, the ACLJ argued that the damaging allegations against Israel were false and without merit. The author of that report now admits that there was no evidence that Israel deliberately targeted civilians while, as he stated, ''it goes without saying'' that Hamas did indeed intentionally target civilians. It's time for the United Nations to rescind this report and close its unfounded inquiry against Israel without delay.

Judge Goldstone wrote an opinion editorial published over the weekend in the ''Washington Post,'' saying in part, ''if I had known then what I know now, the Goldstone Report would have been a different document.''

Goldstone now admits there was no evidence to suggest that Israel ''intentionally targeted'' civilians during the conflict. At the same time, Goldstone admits that Hamas - unlike Israel, which spent tremendous resources conducting its own investigation - did nothing to investigate its own crimes, which, as Goldstone now concludes, ''were intentional ... its rockets were purposefully and indiscriminately aimed at civilian targets.''

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling for the Goldstone Report to be withdrawn: ''Goldstone himself said that all of the things that we have been saying all along are correct - that Israel never intentionally fired at civilians and that our inquiries operated according to the highest international standards. Of course, this is in complete contrast to Hamas, which intentionally attacked and murdered civilians and, naturally, never carried out any sort of inquiry. This leads us to call for the immediate cancellation of the Goldstone Report.''

Now it's time to set the record straight. There's no stronger evidence than the author of the damaging report now admitting he got it wrong. Writing an opinion editorial is one thing, but what Judge Goldstone needs to do is formally withdraw the report at the U.N.

The ACLJ and ECLJ presented both written and oral arguments defending Israel's actions during the Gaza conflict. In January 2010, we filed a written statement and supporting memorandum on our analysis of the Goldstone Report with the U.N. Human Rights Council. In those filings, we highlighted the systematic biases throughout the Goldstone Report and its failure to adhere to U.N. guidelines and the International Bar Association Guidelines for proper and objective fact-finding.

Stand with Israel. Sign the online Petition to Rescind the Goldstone Report now.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Jay Sekulow
ACLJ Chief Counsel

Hal Lindsey Report - 1948 'Hinge of History'

Part 1

from "News from Hal Lindsey Ministries"
This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'
I'm going to examine one of the most pivotal years in history: 1948. You'll be amazed at the sheer number and scope of events that occurred or inventions and entities that were developed in that critical year -- all of which are necessary to the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies concerning the end of this Age. I believe 1948 was the year in which God's final countdown clock started ticking. In fact, I believe it is modern history's turning point. Many of the events and accomplishments of 1948 began to set the stage for the final days of this Age. But the most critical event by far, and the one that makes all of the others important in the prophetic scenario, was the birth of the modern nation of Israel. I'll discuss why that miraculous milestone alone qualifies 1948 as the 'Hinge of History.'

Don't miss this week's "Report" on TBN, Daystar, Inspiration, CPM Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com

God Bless,

Hal Lindsey
mail: HLMM, P.O. Box 470470, Tulsa, OK 74147
email: comments@hallindsey.com
web: http://www.hallindsey.com

Part 2


This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'
First, let me thank you for your wonderful response to last week's rebroadcast of "1948: Hinge of History, Part One." It's been more than three years since we aired that program and I've received many requests asking us to replay it. I'm glad we were finally able to honor your wishes.

On this week's edition of "The Hal Lindsey Report," I continue my examination of 1948. I believe it is modern history's turning point. Last week, we reviewed some of the crucial events of that incredible year. We also looked at some of the inventions and global entities that sprang to life in 1948. Many of the events and accomplishments of 1948 began to set the stage for the final days of this Age. But the most critical event by far, and the one that makes all of the others important in the prophetic scenario, was the birth of the modern nation of Israel. This week, I'll discuss why that miraculous milestone alone qualifies 1948 as the 'Hinge of History.'

Don't miss this week's "Report" on TBN, Daystar, Inspiration, CPM Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com

God Bless,

Hal Lindsey
mail: HLMM, P.O. Box 470470, Tulsa, OK 74147
email: comments@hallindsey.com
web: http://www.hallindsey.com

Manna Fest w/Perry Stone - Cain's Blood at the Church's Door

Part 1

Manna-Fest with Perry Stone #533 "Cain's Blood at the Church's Door" (2010-12-24)

Part 2


Part 3


The overall theme here in this episode is bringing life out of death. Perry teaches on the symbolism of Cain's blood and mark on certain people in the Church today. Then he talks about the importance of words, and how both positive and negative words affect people. He also talks about the physical body and the spiritual symbolism that can be found in our created bodies, such as the heart. Finally, a woman comes out and gives her testimony that references this topic. Another example of how deep God's majesty and revelation is on creation and our lives. Pretty interesting.

www.voe.org

Is Genesis 1–11 a Derivation from Ancient Myths?

by Steve Ham, AiG–U.S.
March 29, 2011
Apologetics

In a culture where God's Word is constantly under attack from those both inside and outside of the church, we must always be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in us. This web series on Apologetics is designed to give you the tools required to defend the faith.

When faced with the question as to whether the Bible accurately records ancient history in Genesis 1–11 or was derived from some other "ancient" document, we first need to apply a solemn reminder. God's Word has made the ultimate and justifiable claim for itself that none of these other ancient texts has made. The Bible repeatedly asserts to be the perfect Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Psalm 19:7, 119:160). If the Bible borrowed from ancient mythologies, this claim would be called into question.

The Issue

All over the world we find cultural legends and myths that closely resemble certain accounts in Scripture, such as the Creation, the Fall, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel accounts. Oftentimes, these accounts are used as an external confirmation of the credibility of Scripture.

If one accepts the account of Scripture that we are all of "one blood" (Acts 17:26), he should also accept the biblical account that all human heritage goes back to the city of Babel where all human population once lived after the global Flood of Noah's day. We would expect to find common accounts of history (such as Creation and the Flood) within the stories and traditions of today's people groups that once lived together in one place after the great Flood. Given years of cultural diversity as mankind spread throughout the world, it is also not surprising that these stories have taken on their own cultural influences in the retelling.

In the mid-1800s within the buried cities of the Ancient Near East (including Nineveh and Nippur in present day Iraq), several excavations uncovered a whole library of tablets from earlier Mesopotamian times. Within these finds and upon the tablets were lists of kings, business archives, administrative documents, and a number of versions of the flood epic. Each version varied in language form and completion (most were only partially intact) with the most complete being the Babylonian collation of The Gilgamesh Epic. On its eleventh tablet was a narrative about the great Flood, and much of its detail shows similarities with the biblical account of the Flood. Rather than being used as a confirmation of biblical credibility, however, many have attempted to use these tablets as a reason to doubt the authority of God's Word because some of them supposedly predate the earliest times of biblical authorship (predating Moses). Some have concluded that with this supposed predating, along with storyline and some language similarity, the biblical accounts are a derivation from earlier Sumerian legends. Some have suggested the history in Genesis is also a form of earlier Jewish mythology in the same manner as the Middle Eastern texts.

Many have used these documents as reason to doubt the authority and inspiration of the Word of God. Some have used these documents to reject Moses as the writer of Genesis, and some have used these documents to suggest that Genesis itself is either myth, poetry, or even simply an argument (a theological polemic) used as a rebuttal of these supposedly older myths.

The Fallible Versus the Infallible

Only two conclusions can come from a study evaluating if the Bible is a derivation from ancient mythology. 1) If this is true, biblical claims of God's inspiration and His perfect Word are untrue, and the Bible cannot be trusted. 2) The Bible truly is the Word of God, and any other claim of authorship or external influence is false.

How we view Scripture has great bearing on how we view the reliability of the gospel of Jesus Christ on which the whole of Christendom is centered. When we read the claims of Scripture, we are left with no room for compromise. The Bible claims all of Scripture comes from God and not of human will. The Bible also claims a perfection in God and of His Word, and any inconsistency or blemish is intolerable to biblical inerrancy and God's infallibility. At the end of the day, this comes down to the claims of fallible men versus the claims of the infallible God.

Today, some scholars seek to understand the Scripture through a "comparative" study approach, looking for parallels in texts and culture as a way of interpreting Scripture. This means the scholars use external documents to interpret Scripture in their light rather than starting with Scripture to shed light on the external documents. Like every other issue of biblical compromise, it comes down to starting points.

If the significance of finding these documents in Nineveh and Nippur has caused some to doubt the authority of Scripture, the issue can only be an interpretation problem. We should always remember the Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God, and it should be allowed to interpret itself and the evidence rather than permitting the evidence to interpret Scripture.

The Significance of the Find

The library of tablets from Nineveh and Nippur was an amazing find, and at the time the significance was not even known. In fact, not until decades later did the deciphered tablets show a version of the Flood account similar to what we find in Genesis. The two most significant items sharing any commonality to biblical history (even if loosely) were the versions of the flood epic and the list of Sumerian kings, of which in particular interest are a list of pre-flood kings.

While these documents have many similarities with biblical history, there are also many differences. In these contradictions biblical history sheds light on its own authentic history and authority. Only the Bible has a consistent logic to its account.

The Dating and Source Dependence of the Documents

The supposed dating of the tablets found range from 2200 to 620 BC. God gave the Law to Moses during the wilderness wandering in the fifteenth century BC. Dating these Sumerian documents as being written even up to 800 years before Moses wrote the account of Genesis does not automatically mean that Genesis was derived from these Sumerian records.

Three possible reasons exist for the consistencies between these documents and the Bible:

1. These Sumerian documents were derived from the original Hebrew text (but are skewed and inaccurate).

2. The Hebrew text was derived from these documents (but was corrected in the process).

3. Both are separate accounts of commonly known history.

One cannot make a definitive choice between the first and third options, but the second option requires an irrational leap. When historical accounts are passed down, unless great care is taken to avoid it (such as has been taken with the biblical record), the records are usually embellished as time goes on, so the history becomes more and more distorted. The second option would require the writer to weed through numerous embellished and legendary accounts to produce the inspired record. Some might claim that God directed Moses throughout the process, but the author would need to sift through scores of texts in multiple languages just to find the scraps of inspired material in each. If one needs to invoke such divine intervention, it makes far more sense to accept the traditional view and obvious solidarity of God's whole inspired text.

Even as we look at the Babylonian flood epic, we find differences within the various Middle Eastern versions that have been uncovered. H. V. Hilprecht from the University of Pennsylvania in 1909 (Hilprecht was part of the University's Babylonian expeditions and excavations) uncovered the earliest fragment of the flood epic. After carefully uncovering and translating each cuneiform character, Hilprecht made the following statement: "In its preserved portion, it showed a much greater resemblance to the Biblical Deluge Story than any other fragment yet published."

Hilprecht's statement helps us understand the ongoing corruption of the Babylonian story compared to the authentic preservation of the biblical account and does not support the conclusion that the Near Eastern mythology should be attributed as the primary source of the biblical account. The inconsistencies within the texts themselves point to an unsurprising lack of reliability in using them as a gauge on the authenticity of the biblical account.

The Pre-Flood Kings

A brief look at just a few particulars of both the Sumerian kings list and the flood epics will show the many inconsistencies that forfeit any consideration of Babylonian myth as a source for Scripture.

The list of pre-flood Sumerian kings has some curious similarities to the list of patriarchs in Genesis. For example, Genesis and the Sumerian list both refer to the Flood. Both refer to men of great ages, and when the differing numeric systems are considered, they provide similar totals. The lists, however, have three significant differences:

1. The ages and lengths of reigns of the Sumerian kings are much longer than that of the biblical patriarchs, as some of the Sumerian kings supposedly reigned for more than 30,000 years. After discovering the Sumerians used a sexagesimal system5 rather than a decimal system of counting, the longer life spans in the Sumerian list are converted to a very similar number with the life spans of eight correlating patriarchs in the biblical account.

2. The Sumerian kings list has only eight in the list while the Bible gives 10 patriarchs before the Flood (including Noah). Although a close correlation exists between these lists, it seems the Sumerian list has omitted the first man and the man who survived the Flood (Adam and Noah). The similarities between the other eight men make this a reasonable consideration.

3. The Bible has a clear difference in the quality of information, the spiritual and moral superiority of the patriarchs, and the completeness of the list. The Genesis account explains in great detail the struggle of mankind with sin and the effects of the Curse. It highlights those who walked with God and also provides details about humanity apart from the patriarchs. Such detail is not found in the Sumerian kings list.

While a study of the Sumerian list is a fascinating journey in discovering the way Sumerians looked upon their ancestry and how their numeric and commercial systems worked, the quality of the biblical text is distinctly superior in both completeness, information, and spiritual and moral quality. The biblical text does not reflect a borrowing from an inferior text. If anything, the very mention of this kings list that matches so closely to the biblical account is a confirmation of biblical authenticity.

The Flood Epics

The Near Middle Eastern Flood epics have three main versions: the Sumerian Epic of Ziusudra, the Akkadian Atrahasis Epic, and the Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic. The Gilgamesh Epic is the most complete with 12 tablets decipherable and the eleventh tablet with the most complete flood account of the three versions.

After great bitterness over losing his friend Enkidu, Gilgamesh seeks Utnapishtim (the Babylonian equivalent of Noah) to give him the secret of immortality. Utnapishtim tells him of the gods' desire to flood the world because they could not sleep for the uproar of mankind. Ea, the god of wisdom, warned Utnapishtim in a dream to convert his house to a boat, take in the seed of all living creatures, and tell the people he was building a boat to escape the wrath of the god Enlil. Utnapishtim built the boat in seven days and took in family, kin, creatures both wild and tame, and all the craftsmen. The great flood came, and even the gods were terrified of it and fled. For six days and nights, the flood overwhelmed the world and on the seventh day grew calm. The boat rested on Mt. Nisir, and Utnapishtim sent out a dove, then a swallow, and then a raven. When the raven didn't return, he made a sacrifice, and the gods gathered like flies over it.

These flood epics reveal many internal inconsistencies, which rule them out from being the source of the Genesis text.

The Difference Is in the Detail

The Bible specifically states that Noah took two of every kind of land-dwelling animal and seven of some animals onto the Ark. The Genesis account is clear and realistic when comparing the animals and the size of the Ark. The Gilgamesh Epic is an unreliable account because it states Utnapishtim was to take the seed of all living creatures, both wild and tame, that he had available. This leaves us with no information about how many animals were likely on board the boat or whether all of the necessary kinds would have been represented for repopulation. The Bible is specific concerning the Ark's animal cargo:

You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of animals that are not clean two, a male and his female; also of the birds of the sky, by sevens, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of all the earth. (Genesis 7:2–3, NASB)

The detailed biblical account explains that the Flood began as all the fountains of the great deep broke open, that it covered the whole earth to the extent of the highest mountains, and that it killed every man and land dwelling, air breathing animal of the earth (Genesis 7:21–22). The biblical detail shows that the whole earth was covered by water coming from both above and below and that it rained continuously for 40 days and nights and the waters continued to rise until the 150th day. The Gilgamesh Epic, while stating the devastation of the flood on humanity, does not specifically detail the full geographical extent and depth of the Flood. Also, it is unreasonable to expect so much water coverage in just six days of rain.

The biblical dimensions of the Ark are detailed and consistent with a vessel that could float in rough waters and could house the animals described. The dimensions of the boat in The Gilgamesh Epic amount to more of a cube shaped vessel with the beam equaling the length. Although we know it had seven stories (decks), it is impossible to determine the full size of the vessel. Logistically, this boat could not float in a stable manner in rough seas and would not be structurally reliable.

The Bible is consistently reliable on the account of the birds that were released. It is logical to send out a raven before a dove, given that ravens are scavengers while doves feed only on plants. The intervals of release of the dove are consistent with the expectation of having a drained land for vegetation and occupants, and this correlates with the dove returning with a freshly picked olive leaf and then the dove not returning at all. By contrast, The Gilgamesh Epic mentions a dove, then a swallow, and finally a raven. There are no intervals mentioned to assess the appropriate time length for flights, and sending a raven last is questionable in that ravens may have been able to survive as scavengers.

The Character of the "Gods"

In The Gilgamesh Epic, the gods are impatient and impulsive. They do not like the uproar and babel of mankind and decide to destroy humanity. The gods have no justifiable moral reason to destroy humanity. In contrast, the God of the Bible sent the Flood on an already cursed world because of man's wicked heart that only desired evil. God's judgment in the light of sin is righteous and just.

The Babylonian gods lie and tell Utnapishtim to lie to other humans about the coming wrath. The Gilgamesh Epic promotes polytheistic mythology, whereas the Bible presents monotheistic theology. The many gods in The Gilgamesh Epic differ in ideas and motivations, and they seek to thwart each other. The God of the Bible is holy, pure, unchanging, and cannot lie. These are just a few of the character differences between the biblical God and the description of the gods in the Babylonian myth.

Lastly, it is important to note that in The Gilgamesh Epic the god Ea tells Utnapishtim to save himself through the ark by means of deceiving the other gods. In the Bible God Himself provides the plans for the Ark as the means to save Noah and his family. Furthermore, Noah was a preacher of righteousness rather than deceit (2 Peter 2:5).

Even based solely on comparison between the perfect Word of God and the imperfect pagan myths, it is absurd to think the descriptions in the Babylonian texts could be the source of the Genesis account in the inspired Word of God.

Conclusion

It is not difficult to rule out the Ancient Near Eastern mythological texts from being the source of influence for the account of Genesis. While Genesis is reliable, they are not. While Genesis shows consistency of our God's righteous and sovereign character, the mythological texts show the gods as little more than squabbling people, deceiving each other and humanity and lacking sovereign control. While the Genesis Flood account gives enough credible information to allow for historical and geological confirmation, the mythological texts provide little that can be confirmed, and what is provided does not make sense logically or scientifically.

The similarities among Ancient Near Eastern mythologies and between The Gilgamesh Epic and the Bible make sense from a biblical worldview. Christians should not be surprised to see people groups all over the world with their own accounts of the Creation, the Fall, the Flood, men of great ages, and even the Tower of Babel. The accounts can tell us people once had the same record or eyewitness of a common event handed down from a generation that was once congregated in the same place at the same time.

The Gilgamesh Epic tells a sad tale of a man (who was supposedly part god) looking desperately for everlasting life. This was a man who knew of great men of old who lived long lives and supposedly became gods, and he wanted to attain this status himself. He had a desperate desire to avoid death. A Christian can hear tales such as this and consider them in light of biblical truth. The Bible shows us that men did indeed live for longer periods of time, but as mankind became further distanced from a perfect original creation, life expectancies shortened. The Bible reveals the devastation of sin in the judgment of death and mankind's continual need for a Savior. The Bible gives us the account of the worldwide Flood that covered the entire earth and shows both God's faithfulness in judgment and in salvation by protecting a line of humanity for the promised Messiah.

In the light of Scripture, we see confirmation in mythology around the world that the Bible is indeed God's Word and the only reliable truth. In the message of God's Word, we see Him stepping into this world and taking upon Himself the wrath we deserve. Only through the consistent Word of the Bible can we know salvation is only received through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Help keep these daily articles coming. Support AiG.

Footnotes

Stephanie Dalley, translator, Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009).
The Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by Andrew George (New York: Penguin Books, 1960).
Ira M. Price, The Monuments and the Old Testament, 2010 reprint (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1905).
H. V. Hilprecht, The Babylonian Expedition of the University of Pennsylvania (1910), 35).
A sexagesimal system is based on the number 60 and allows for easy division into various fractions for trade and other purposes.
For more information, please see Nozomi Osanai, "A Comparative Study of the Flood Accounts in The Gilgamesh Epic and Genesis" at http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/flood/introduction.asp. Accessed February 22, 2011

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2011/03/29/derivation-from-ancient-myths#

The Promise of Resurrection: a Place Called Heaven

By Charles F. Stanley

If you asked a number of people if they believe there is a place called heaven, most would probably say yes. But if you asked them what it’s like or how to get there, I suspect you’d get a variety of answers. Though many people cling to a belief in heaven and hope to go there when they die, very few have an accurate understanding of it.

Since human beings are earth-bound until death, misconceptions about heaven are common. Some people imagine it as a foggy haze where formless spirits float about or winged saints sit on clouds playing harps. Movies about the afterlife present their own version of what awaits. And a few people who have reportedly returned from near-death experiences have described what they believe they saw.

Amid all the confusing and contradictory views, we need to remember that the only sure source of accurate information about heaven is the Bible. In its pages, God gives us glimpses of celestial scenes. Although we may long for more details and descriptions, the Lord has revealed what He wants us to know and, more than likely, what we can handle. Our human limitations keep us from adequately comprehending the inconceivable glories above. We have no frame of reference for understanding all that God has prepared for us (1 Cor. 2:9). Many times we have more questions than answers.

How Do I Get to Heaven?

The Bible clearly states that after death, there are only two possible destinies for mankind—heaven or hell. In a story that vividly contrasted the comfort of eternal life with everlasting torment, Jesus explained that switching locations is impossible (Luke 16:19-31). Knowing this, we would be foolish to ignore God’s Word and risk relying on our own ideas about how to get to heaven.

Many people think that eternal destiny is determined by behavior. If their good works outweigh the bad, they believe God will accept them. But the Lord says all our good works are like filthy rags in His sight (Isa. 64:6). Since every person on earth inherits a fallen nature, no one is qualified to enter God’s holy dwelling place.

Our entrance into heaven has nothing to do with how good we are; what matters is how good Jesus is, and what He did for us. He lived an absolutely perfect life and paid the penalty for our sin by dying in our place. Those who believe this and accept His payment on their behalf are given a ticket to heaven which can never be revoked.

Why Should I Be Interested in Heaven?

Some Christians are content simply to know they are eternally secure. Sure, they want to experience the glories above but see no immediate connection between their daily lives and their future destiny. Therefore, they feel no desire to learn more about it. But Christ wants believers to know “the hope of His calling, . . . the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:18). None of us would be uninterested in an earthly inheritance, yet many of God’s children make no effort to discover what He has prepared for them in eternity.

Heaven is our future home. That’s where our citizenship is; we’re only travelers on earth. A lifetime here will seem like a mere breath compared to the time we spend in eternity. Whenever you read a Bible passage that describes some heavenly scene or activity, put yourself in the picture, because that is going to be your reality. The pearly gates and the street of gold are not just a fairy tale. You will one day walk through those gates, step on that street, and come face to face with Jesus.

This eternal dwelling place is home for all of God’s family. We’ll meet the saints from every age and be reunited with our believing loved ones. But this reunion will be so much better than any we’ve previously experienced. There will be no conflicts or misunderstandings—only perfect love and intimacy. The ideal fellowship we all yearn for will be ours forever.

But the most important reason to learn more about heaven is because it’s the dwelling place of God. We will finally be in the presence of the One who died for us. For all of our earthly years, we have loved and served Him, but in eternity, our faith will become sight. The sin that kept us from perfect, intimate fellowship with the Lord will never again hinder our relationship.

What Is Heaven Like?

Because Jesus came from the Father to earth, He had firsthand knowledge of our glorious future home. Shortly before dying, He told His disciples that He was returning to His Father’s house to prepare a place for them and would come back to take them to their new home (John 14:1-3). Ever since that day, Christians throughout history have been waiting for His promised return.

Today, when believers die, their souls are ushered instantly into the Lord’s presence to experience all the joys and comforts of heaven (2 Cor. 5:6-9). Jesus will bring them with Him when He returns for His church, and their souls will be reunited with imper-ishable resurrected bodies (1 Thess. 4:13-17). Those of us who are alive at that time will be changed—our bodies will be transformed from weak, mortal, and sinful to glorious, immortal, and perfect.

If you want to know what your new body will be like, look at Jesus’ body after His resurrection. He was not an ethereal spirit but literal flesh and bone; the disciples could see and touch Him. He even ate with them (Luke 24:36-43). But the best thing about our new bodies is that they will be free of sin and its curse. Never again will we experience an inward struggle to obey the Lord. Nor will we ever live with the pain, suffering, and death that came as a result of the fall of mankind.

Many years after John heard Jesus promise to prepare a place for His followers, he was given a vision of the future. He saw a new heaven and earth that were completely cleansed of all sin. Standing on a high mountain, he watched the New Jerusalem come down out of heaven. The promised place was prepared and ready. The sight was beyond human description, but John did his best to put this celestial vision into earthly language (Rev. 21:1-22:5).

The brilliance of God’s glory radiated from the structure, and its foundations gleamed with various colors of precious stones. The gates were made of pearls and the street of transparent gold. This 1500-mile-long cube-shaped city was designed by the Lord as a place where He and mankind would share an intimate, perfect relationship forever.

Though we may have difficulty imagining the physical structure of this city, we have no trouble understanding the meanings of the things that are not in the New Jerusalem. There will be no pain, tears, mourning, or death. All frustration, boredom, and problems will cease. No one will have handicaps, and our bodies will never grow old, tired, or sick.

What Will I Do in Heaven?

Although most of us understand that heaven is a place of great joy and delight, we may wonder what we are going to do there. Some Christians have even voiced their concern that it might be boring—one long church service that never ends.

Although praise of our God and Savior will be an essential part of our activities, we must be careful not to view it strictly from the perspective of our present earthly experience. Right now we live in fleshly bodies and struggle with self-centered thinking, but then we will be free from selfishness and will take constant delight in praising the Lord. When the blinders of this mortal life are removed, we will see things as they really are (1 Cor. 13:12). Knowing fully what Christ has saved us from and seeing the glories He has provided for us, we will not be able to stop ourselves from joyfully thanking and exalting Him.

In fact, everything we do will be an act of worship. In Luke 19:12-26, Jesus told a parable that clearly shows we will be given responsibilities in heaven according to our degree of faithfulness with what God entrusted to us on earth. Even in eternity, we’re described as bondservants of the Lord (Rev. 22:3). Our service for Christ began the moment we were saved and will continue forever. Relocation to heaven does not bring about the end of service but rather the perfection of it—all the frustration, failure, and inadequacy that has accompanied our work since the fall will be removed.

How Can I Prepare for Heaven?

Knowing the glories of eternity should motivate us to live for Christ during our time on earth. Keeping an eternal perspective enables us to endure hardship and pain without losing heart. Like Paul, we will realize that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18). When the difficulties of this life become burdensome, remember that the only trouble and pain you’ll ever experience will occur during your earthly lifetime, but the ecstasy of heaven will be yours forever.

As long as we remain here, God has work for us to do. Because we’re Christ’s witnesses, it is our responsibility to tell others about the Savior so they, too, can be with Him forever. In fact, everything we do is to be done as for the Lord (Col. 3:23-24). Our purpose is to live for Him, not for our own pleasures and ambitions.

An awareness of eternity should also motivate us to live godly lives that are worthy of reward. When believers stand before the judgment seat of Christ, their eternal destiny will not be the issue; that was settled at the cross. But He will evaluate their works and compensate them accordingly (1 Cor. 3:10-15). Those who have been faithful servants will be rewarded with increased responsibility, a greater capacity for joy in heaven, and praise from the Lord (Matt. 25:20-23).

Each day is an opportunity to prepare for our eternal home. It’s so easy to get sidetracked with the cares of this life, but what we do today will shape our experiences in eternity. Let’s spend our lives in faithful service to God, glorifying Him by bearing much fruit, and selflessly storing up treasure in heaven. Christ’s commendation of “Well done, good and faithful servant” will be worth every earthly sacrifice.

Questions for Further Study

Description of Heaven

Read Revelation 21:1-22:5 and imagine yourself in the scene. Describe what you see as you approach the New Jerusalem and enter through its gate. What are you going to experience in this city? What will you not experience?

Benefits of an Eternal Mindset

How does Peter describe our inheritance (1 Pet. 1:3-5)? Knowing this, what attitude and perspective can we have (vv. 6-9)? Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-18. What difficult conditions are mentioned in verses 7-11? Describe the hophttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gife that is presented in verses 14-18. To prevent us from losing heart, where should our focus be?

Preparation for Heaven

As we wait for our eternal home, what ambition should motivate us (2 Cor. 5:6-9)? Read 2 Peter 3:10-15. What is going to happen to the earth and everything that goes on here? How should this knowledge shape our lives now? What does Jesus recommend that we do to prepare for eternity (Luke 12:15-34)? Read the parable of the minas in Luke 19:11-27. How did the slaves’ faithfulness affect their futures? How did the master respond to each one? What has the Lord entrusted to you? How can you use what He’s given you to faithfully serve Him?

Copyright 2011 In Touch Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. www.intouch.org. In Touch grants permission to print for personal use only.

Glenn Beck "I Stand With Israel"

(from www.GlennBeck.com) Glenn gave a passionate condemnation of US foreign policy on tonight’s TV show. As the Middle East continues to burn, the United States – and most of the world for that matter – have not taken a firm stance in alliance with Israel. Instead, the administration has been silent as groups like the Muslim Brotherhood start to work their way into power in Egypt and other countries.

Glenn makes a compelling argument, noting that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that shares American values. They are constantly provoked and attacked, yet despite having a heavy nuclear arsenal they have not launched a single one. In Israel, unlike most other Middle Eastern countries, women are treated equally and people aren’t stoned for their sexual orientation. Nevertheless, the United States has – at it’s best – remained silent.

But Glenn used his opening monologue to take a stand for Israel. “You have to do what you feel is the right thing, because the times call for it.” He made his stand tonight, and he called for viewers to take account of their lives and figure out where they stand on these issues and the other issues facing the country and the world. World leaders may be silent – or worse, standing on the wrong side of history – and its up to the individuals in America to stand on the side of good.

http://www.glennbeck.com/2011/03/29/beck-i-stand-with-israel/

Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update for week of april 1, 2011

The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. Revelation 6:9–11

North Korea—Gospel Balloon Launches Threatened—VOM Sources, AFP

John 17:18
As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

In February, North Korea warned the South Korean government to stop allowing the launch of balloons that drop “propaganda” leaflets into its country. North Korea even threatened to open fire on locations in South Korea from which the balloons are launched. Some activists use balloon launches to drop political leaflets in North Korea, but VOM uses similar methods to send the gospel into North Korea. Because of North Korea’s threats, some South Koreans are now refusing to allow VOM partners to launch balloons from their neighborhoods. “We’ve decided to prevent the leaflet launch as it would make our hard life harder,” one of the district chiefs told AFP news agency. The balloon team asks for prayer that they will reflect Christ well as they continue to seek ways to send Christ’s message of hope into North Korea

Pakistan—Cause of Christian Prisoner’s Death Questioned—VOM Canada, VOM Sources

Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

A Christian serving a life sentence on blasphemy charges has died under suspicious circumstances in Lahore. Qamar David, who was imprisoned in June 2006 after a business rival accused him of insulting the Prophet Muhammad, died on March 14, 2011. Initial autopsy reports seemed to confirm prison authorities’ claims that he died of a heart attack, but Qamar’s family believes he was killed. He was reportedly threatened and beaten regularly by prison guards and inmates during his almost five years in prison. Qamar’s son told VOM contacts that the family was too scared to attend the hearing at which the medical reports were announced.

Also in Lahore, 40-year-old Shaheen Bibi, a Christian mother of seven, was recently freed from her Muslim captors after being kidnapped last August. Shaheen had been drugged, raped, sold into marriage, and threatened with death if she did not convert to Islam. On March 6, a team managed to rescue Shaheen from her captors. She reported that at least 10 other women were in captivity with her. Thank God for her release. Pray that God will equip Pakistani Christians to be bold and gracious witnesses in an environment of severe opposition. Also pray for the repeal of Pakistan’s blasphemy law, which is often used against Christians.

Sudan—Violence Precedes South Sudan’s Secession—Assist News Service

Isaiah 66:12
“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.
Then you shall feed;
On her sides shall you be carried,
And be dandled on her knees.

Violence has increased in south Sudan since the Jan. 9, 2011, Referendum on Southern Self-Determination. In February, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) clashed with forces of northern opposition figure Gen. Akhor, leaving 200 dead. Another 50 were killed in fighting between the SPLA and forces of Gabriel Tanginya, who is backed by Islamic Khartoum. In the north-south border region of Abyei, 100 Misseriya Arab militiamen and other Khartoum-backed forces massacred police and civilians. On March 2, 1,000 members of the militia attacked another Abyei village, killing 33. The violence has caused the displacement of 45,000 southern Sudanese — mostly women and children. Both the north and south are preparing for conflict. Please pray for the war-ravaged, predominantly Christian people of south Sudan.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.