Category: Subject Index

AOTS Number 38

As one child put it, “My best friends are usually the ones who get me in trouble.” It is so important to choose godly companions.

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AOTS Number 37

Because the hope we have in Christ does not depend upon self, there is no reason for the Christian to be a pessimist.

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AOTS Number 36

Children will go to extremes to get their parent’s attention. Why not give them your attention and instruction and guidance easily, to avoid the extremes?!

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Lesson based on text in 2 Peter 1:3-4. God promises us to forget our sinful past, to help us resist and overcome temptation, to hear our prayerful petitions and to grant us an eternal inheritance through His son Jesus.

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I recently came across a very interesting and informative article written by Ken Ham on the Answers In Genesis website. The title of the article is, Creation: ‘where’s the proof”, and it can be found in its entirety at the following URL:

click here for link.

Consider the following quote from the article:

Creationists and evolutionists, Christians and non-Christians all have the same evidence—the same facts. Think about it: we all have the same earth, the same fossil layers, the same animals and plants, the same stars—the facts are all the same.

The difference is in the way we all interpret the facts. And why do we interpret facts differently? Because we start with different presuppositions. These are things that are assumed to be true, without being able to prove them. These then become the basis for other conclusions. All reasoning is based on presuppositions (also called axioms). This becomes especially relevant when dealing with past events.

The premise of the article is interesting. The writer notes that in arguing whether man was created or evolved, many want to “leave the Bible out of it.” In other words, they would be willing to listen to the claims of Christianity, but first they need to see real proof regarding God’s existence.

Continue reading “Same Facts … Different Interpretations” →

The blood of Jesus Christ was shed to redeem us, giving us the remission of our sins, and serving as purchase price for the church. It is possible to count is common or unclean by living willfully rather than in accord with God’s word.

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HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s media regulator has rejected calls to reclassify the Bible as an indecent publication following more than 2,000 complaints about its sexual and violent content, including rape and incest.

“The Bible is a religious text which is part of civilization. It has been passed from generation to generation,” Hong Kong’s Television and Licensing Authority (TELA) said in a statement issued late Thursday.

It said it would not submit the Bible to the Obscene Articles Tribunal for classification.

The regulator received 2,041 complaints against the Bible this week, following an uproar over a sex column in a student magazine that was classified as “indecent” by authorities for asking if readers had ever fantasized about incest or bestiality.

A Web site launched soon afterwards campaigned to have the Bible similarly classified, citing passages with sexual and violent content it claimed went beyond that of the sex column.

But TELA said in its statement the Bible “had not violated standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable members of the community.”

Publications classified as indecent in Hong Kong can only be bought by people aged over 18 and must be sealed in a wrapper with a statutory warning notice.

Reuters, Friday, May 18, 2007

Analysis:

This is a typical attempt made by the ungodly to justify their lasciviousness and sin. The Bible has been called pornographic, violent and offensive. It is not. However, it records the lives and sins of those who are sometimes pornographic, violent and offensive.

The interesting thing to note is that while the Bible is plain in speech, it is never provocative, nor does it make prurient appeals and stoop to lurid speech or descriptions.

When sin is committed, sin is reported. When the sin is especially egregious and offensive, these things are noted while a righteous and appropriate tone is always present.

The “sex column” in the student magazine was intended to shock, and to appeal to the prurient nature of the young people who read it. Whether you agree with the censorship being practiced by the Hong Kong governmental agency, to claim the two are comparable is ridiculous, as rightly determined by the TELA statement.

Understand, the students did not really have an objection toward the Bible. They just wanted their truly objectionable material to be tolerated. This is the way of sinners. When they make objections, saying, “Well if this is so, then this is too…” (and doesn’t that sound familiar), their claims in no way justify their own actions. Put it this way, if indeed the Bible is pornographic… that doesn’t make their material acceptable! This is the logic of the devil and his minions.

AOTS Number 35

Every time that life knocks us down – with trials, tribulations and temptations – we must get back up if we expect to be successful in life.

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AOTS Number 34

As we seek to live our lives in such a way as to gain an eternal reward, we need to realize that we have an enemy, the devil, who is actively seeking to defeat us.

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AOTS Number 33

How is it that two can both hear the same sermons week after week, and one is faithful and strong while the other is weak and worldly? Could it be that only one of the two is really listening?

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AOTS Number 32

The apostle Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians gives an admonition to deal patiently with those who are weak. It is one we must all heed carefully.

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AOTS Number 31

Everyone talks to themselves. But, it is important when you do so, that you say the right things, or you may be shown to be a fool.

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Luke 11:31-32, the example of the Queen of the South, and the men of Nineveh, in their quest for and response to truth served to judge rebellious Israel. They may likewise judge us today if our attitude and response to the gospel of Christ is not sufficient.

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As Christians we can and should have confidence in our spiritual standing and ability to stand. The confidence does not come from self, but is based in the accomplishments of Christ, and the grace of God.

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“Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ‘Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed’” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8).

Consider the implications of Moses’ words to Joshua. He would take over the rule of the people of God, to lead them into the promised land. There would be many battles, many hardships, and (as it turned out due to the unfaithfulness of the people) many setbacks in his time as the leader of Israel. The words, spoken in front of all the people, were designed not only to bolster Joshua’s courage, but to present him to Israel as God’s chosen leader over them. The path taken would not be easy, but the victory of Israel was assured due to God’s presence. “He is the one who goes before you.”

Continue reading “Be Strong and of Good Courage” →