Erica's Bible Study and Journal: Miscellaneous

Another Glorious Day

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:32:47 GMT

Today Hoobah (my husband), Aaliyah (my cousin/goddaughter), and I spent the day at the beach. We had a wonderful time! We woke up early and packed towels, sandwiches, drinks, etc. and headed out. We are fortunate to only be 5 minutes from the ocean. It wouldn’t even take that long if we didn’t have to worry about traffic lights.

Everywhere you looked there were people. From one end of the horizon to the next. Living in a resort area means you don't need a calendar to know when the holiday's are. All you have to do is notice the volume of traffic, the lines in the stores, and the number of people on the beach to know. There must have been a bajillion people on the beach today. Despite that we were able to enjoy ourselves.

Now I can appreciate tourists because without them our local economy would be nonexistent. BUT I would like them a whole lot more if they would bring their brains with them when they cross the bridge onto our islands.

For instance, when is it a good idea to let your toddler wander 100 feet away to play in an ocean while you face the opposite direction? When you're on vacation! When is it appropriate to expect someone to come fix your air conditioner the moment it stops cooling properly even though that is NOT how it works at your home? When you're on vacation! When is it appropriate to abandon every appearance of common courtesy and dignity for the sake of your own pleasure thereby teaching your children to do the same? When you are on vacation! But I digress.

Aaliyah and I can’t swim, but we had fun wading in the ocean sometimes up to our chests. Hoobah on the other hand should have been born a fish. We had lots of sun and fun but there is one thing I missed. I wanted to get pictures of the pelicans skimming the surface of the water, but they all refused to cooperate. They knew when the camera was put away and they would pop out of the ocean and drift over the waves just a few feet away. That’s not exactly how it happened, but that’s what it seemed like. I could look into the distance to the north and south of us and see nothing. But the moment I turned away, there they were soaring just above the waves. I'd swear it was some sort of pelican conspiracy.

After we were as covered in sand and salt as we could stand to be (approximately 4 hours later), we made our way home where we showered and relaxed for the rest of the evening. Aaliyah, poor thing slept for probably 2 hours. How someone so young can sleep so much is a mystery. If we didn't drag her out of bed, she'd just stay there until hunger overtook her.

We had an awesome time today and we hope to do so again tomorrow (although not at the beach). I wish all my American citizens a Happy Independence day and I ask you not to do anything stupid. If you're not sure what constitutes stupid, send me an email. I'd be happy to fill you in.

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PLEASE READ YOUR BIBLE AND STOP BELIEVING LUNATICS!

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:35:13 GMT

Thanks to a post by dear friend Elizabeth at arkswayministry.spaces.live.com I became aware of another

How can people be so gullible?

fraud. I had heard about some strange "revival" taking place in Florida, but until today I didn't have any information on it. Well I am absolutely stunned! Not only am I shocked that this guy, Todd Bentley has the audacity to say and do what he says and does. I am equally shocked at how desperate people are to believe anything except the truth.

Please watch this video for a sampling of the type of things that go on with this man. If people will READ THEIR BIBLES they will know the truth and they won't continue BELIEVING LUNATICS!

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Of Tolerance and Approval

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:42:56 GMT

This an entry I posted on another blog site (that I haven't updated in months). Since I use MSN spaces primarily, I decided to move it here. If you don't believe it is mine feel free to check it out at http://www.journalhome.com/MyLifesJourney.

Tolerance is defined by MSN Encarta online dictionary as “acceptance of different views: the acceptance of the differing views of other people, e.g. in religious or political matters, and fairness toward the people who hold these different views”.

Approval is defined by MSN Encarta online dictionary as "1. good opinion: a favorable opinion or feeling about something 2. official sanction: formal or official agreement or permission”.

I offer these definitions to you because I have noticed a very troubling trend in the past few years. It is a trend among certain communities to label other communities as intolerant because they don't approve of their views. This is most often seen between the Gay and Lesbian community and the Christian community, but it extends to many other groups as well. I respect the fact that as consenting, rational adults we all have the freedom to live our lives as we see fit. God gave us ALL freewill. He didn’t give it to a few or some, but to all. I also am of the belief that as citizens of the US we all have the freedom to disagree. Well, in the age of “political correctness” if someone expresses a viewpoint that is unpopular or offensive, they are labeled as intolerant, fanatical, and closed-minded to name a few of the many adjectives used and their views are not tolerated (rather ironic I say). Sometimes these words apply, for instance if one group is attacking another. Usually they do not.

We should all tolerate the choices and ideas of others. We shouldn’t belittle anyone or ostracize anyone based on the decisions or lifestyle choices they make. If I choose to be a bible believing Christian and someone else chooses to be a Buddhist that is ok. I shouldn’t hold the Buddhist at arms length or hate them for their choice. They shouldn’t hate or reproach me. That is tolerance. However, I shouldn’t compromise my belief by saying the Buddhist is right in his belief and he shouldn’t have to believe I am right. That would be approval. I don’t need his approval and he doesn’t need mine. We do need each other’s tolerance. See the difference?

I believe homosexuality is a sin and goes against God’s plan. I don’t believe it is any worse than any other sin such as lying or adultery. I also don’t believe homosexual people should be mistreated or ostracized. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, not as if they are contagious. I also believe that I am entitled to my beliefs and as long as I am extending genuine respect to a homosexual person, they should show me the same. A woman who is lesbian shouldn’t assail me for not approving of her lifestyle and I shouldn’t judge and rebuke her for not approving of mine. Again, that is tolerance.

Recently there was an attempt to pass legislation that would make it illegal for a pastor to tell his congregation that homosexuality is a sin. That pastor could be prosecuted because saying that would be considered hate speech. Isn’t that intolerant? I think telling that congregation to attack homosexuals is hate speech. There was also an attempt to pass legislation that would require schools to teach all subjects with no reference to gender. Rather than “he” or “she” they would have to use “that person” so as to eliminate any distinction between the sexes. Isn’t that intolerant? Unless there is something wrong with being a male or a female we shouldn’t negate gender. Or what about the push to give harsher penalties for crimes labeled as hate crimes? Should a person who murders someone based on their sexual orientation be subject to stiffer sentencing than someone who commits the same crime on a person because they are angry with them? Aren’t all violent crimes hate crimes? Each life is as valuable as the next. Isn’t the belief that one life is more valuable than another intolerant?

There seems to be this huge movement to make us into a race of people who all share one brain. While the world we live in is scarier than it has ever been, I think a world where we deny others the right to think independently and to have views that are in opposition to our own is far worse. I should be able to tell you what I believe without fear of reprisal, and you should be able to tell me what you believe without fear of retaliation. However, we shouldn’t try to force each other to give our approval to something we don’t approve of. That is tolerance at its best.

**(Of course, this applies only to situations where thinking, reasoning adults are concerned, not to those that involve the suppression of another such as pedophilia, child abuse, or domestic abuse. I make note of this distinction because there are people who would like to have these sanctioned as well. If you don’t believe me, watch the five o’clock news.)

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The World of Charlatans

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:30:14 GMT

If you turn on BET early any morning, you are likely to see one cracked pot "preacher" or "prophet" after the next. I could spend all day picking these posers apart, but frankly I just don't have the time. However, I would like to focus this morning on Bishop Jordan, a self proclaimed prophet. The premise of his 30 minute infomercial is that if you call or write his "ministry" he will record a DVD and write a prophesy especially for you.

First, I'd like to point out to those that don't know, the bible is full of prophets. However, none of them prophesied to individuals regarding acquiring wealth, or finding a spouse, or anything of a temporal, self-satisfying nature. The prophets God sent were always sent to warn people to repent of their sins and commit themselves to obeying God. The reason being that God is more interested in enriching souls than pockets.

That is not what this man does. He encourages people to call him or visit his website to receive a free customized prophesy. Well, if you call I assume they send the "prophesy" along with the offers on their website. For instance, his books are for sale there. You can also order a series entitled "The Business of Getting Rich" for $352. (At $352 a pop, I guess he does know how to get rich. Stealing from others! If you have $352 laying around, don't give it to him. Use it to get out debt or start a savings account. Geez!) For this price you get a book, 3 CDs, and a one on one call with one of his people.

I don't remember God sending any prophets to tell people how to get rich. In fact God said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). He never tells us to seek money. He will give us what we need if we seek HIM!

Also they have a $52 seed miracle. If you donate $52, "you will receive your life-changing prophetic word on CD by me, Master Prophet E. Bernard Jordan and the Company of Prophets!" I assume this differs from the free prophecy because you get the whole company of prophets. Whatever!

But wait! There's more! For $399 you get to meet him and his wife, the prophetess no less, at the Sheraton in Atlanta. That is the admission! Not rooms, food, etc. ADMISSION.

People, please don't allow yourselves to be taken in by these types of pariahs who seek to enrich themselves by taking advantage of desperate, hurting people. This man is no different then the psychics that used to be on TV late at night (they may still be there for all I know). God knows where you are, He knows what you need, and He knows how to speak to you. And His motives are pure. Don't allow yourselves to be sucked into this garbage.

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I'm So Thankful for all My "Friends"

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:51:37 GMT

I would like to take a few moments to let you all know how much I have been encouraged by becoming serious about my blog and using it as a way to make "friends". I put the word friends in quotation marks because we aren't friends in the truest sense of the word (with the exception of 1 or 2 I feel like I am getting to know and you know who you are). But we read each other's blogs and such.

Well in reading the blogs of most of my "friends", I have found that there are still a lot of people all over the world that believe the bible IS THE SOURCE OF TRUTH. I have learned that there are others like me that actively desire to please God (no matter how short we come of that goal), to know Him better, and to represent Him to a lost, hurting, and deceived world. That does my heart so much good.

It is so easy to look at the state of the world and feel like every person on the planet has gone stark, raving mad. You turn on the TV and you see a bunch of cracked pots holding themselves out as Christians and servants of God, but they only lead people away from God with their oils, and soaps, and cloths. And the world looks at them and thinks that is me so that when I say I am a Christian they think I must have taken leave of my senses. And then you have the "Christians" who dress, act, live, speak, and behave as if sinners and the saved are one and the same. Can anybody relate to this or is it just me?

But now that I have my new found "friends" I have hope. I see that I am not alone and that there are others that that are saddened at the deplorable state of things and long for the day that God sets all things aright. Thank you all for blessing me just by being.

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Changes

Sat, 17 May 2008 19:58:53 GMT

When I created this space, it was my intention to post summaries of my daily bible readings. I was committed to posting everyday. That became too much so I decided to take the weekends off. That was still too much. Now it is sporadic and believe it or not, I am somewhat comfortable with that. Now it doesn't feel like a job. It is more something I do for my pleasure.

Having said that, I have decided I don't want to only post a summary. I want to post a summary and whatever happens to be on my heart and mind to share. For instance, about a month and a half ago, my husband and a friend of ours talked about starting a home maintenance company. After discussing the idea at length, the three of us decided to start our own business-Fire Walker Home Services. I am responsible for making us a legitimate business and taking care of the day to day tasks involved in running a business. If anybody has any advice, I am certainly open to hearing it. I have a lot to learn. I do all the behind the scenes stuff. They go to the house and do the work. We make a good team!

Things have been going slowly of course. We are still new so people will have to see that we are serious and we continue to be surprised at the way God sends people to us. We have had several jobs already and we got a couple calls yesterday from people that want us to meet with them to give them an estimate. I am so excited. I have always believed i was destined to be self-employed and after I got married I encouraged my husband to think along those lines because I felt he was wasting his talents doing the type of work he was doing. It is so wonderful to see things come together and realize that you are where God has been preparing you to be!

So those that have been reading this blog, be prepared to get to know me. And please, leave comments. I want to get to know you some too.

I beg your pardon

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:30:09 GMT

I have not posted an entry since 1/16/08. For that I am deeply sorry. It shows a lack of commitment on my part and that is the last think I want anyone to think. I have stopped posting my studies because I have run into a small problem that I am working to correct.

All the time I have been writing my study summaries, I have been doing so with the idea that no one would be reading them but me. That meant that I could leave off certain points or thoughts because they were in my head. Reading my abbreviated notes would bring it back to mind. When I tried to transfer those notes to this blog, I found that they didn't make sense. To fix that I would reread the passage and essential rewrite my notes. Well this was VERY time consuming. It amounted to two bible studies per day: the one I did in the morning for my own benefit and the one I did after work for the blog. I have taken this time to try and formulate a solution that will allow me to post according to schedule and stay current in my own study.

This is what I came up with. I am currently, as I study, writing my summaries as if they will be published. Once I have amassed enough of them, I will be able to post them daily and continue to read. I hope this will work. E-sword (e-sword.net) has been an incredible help with this. Thanks Rev.

In the meantime, I beg the pardon of the few people who read this. I am thankful that you even take the time. To AVoice4Jesus2, I want to thank you for your encouragement and time. You don't know what it means to me. I love you and I hope you and your wife will be able to come see us this year.

The tentative date for my next entry is February 23. Until then...

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