Isaiah, the Fifth Evangelist

In today's message, I would like to broaden your understanding of the book Christ read from while in the synagogue of His home town, Luke_4:16-30 so that you may better appreciate the book written by the Fifth Evangelist. While Isaiah is the most often quoted prophet in the New Testament, his book can be as obscure as it is interesting. Even many Christians will admit they know very little about the book and what it has to offer for their walk with Christ. Other than being familiar with a few famous passages that foretold the advent of Christ Isa_9:6 and his suffering Isa_53:1-12, most people don’t know that there are prophecies that coincide with the book of Revelations. Isa_13:1-13, Isa_14:1-22. Unfortunately, because of their unfamiliarity they miss out on the true gift Isaiah has to offer.

From the beginning of time the Lord had a plan of salvation for mankind, Gen_3:15. "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel."Ecc_3:15 "That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by." However, the first mention of His plan to give us the gift of His Son is Gen_3:15. The last mention of His plan for our salvation is in the book of Revelations, Rev_22:20 "He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus". A promise that may be truly said to every person in every age, Jesus the Judge is at the door. In Isaiah, you will find God's plan for the salvation of mankind Isa_53:10, His plan of judgment for the world, and those who would refuse his gift Isa_13:6-13. His birth Isa_9:6, His death Isa_53:8, and His resurrection Isa_53:10are also foretold within the pages of this book. We can either ignore Isaiah's prophecies like the Jews did or, as Christ taught, we can embrace them.

This is the first time the Lord spoke of a savior for mankind and He did so at the very dawning of the gospel day. No sooner was the deadly poisonous wound given than the remedy was provided and revealed. The Lord had planed from the beginning that the one who was first deceived would be the one through whom the guilt of the world would fall. Since sin is handed down through the man, the sin nature of man was not handed down to the Messiah. So He is truly the unblemished Lamb whom the Lord accepted as the perfect sin offering. One can even glean from the Scriptures that the Lord had a plan for salvation even before He spoke the heavens and the earth into existence.

I called Isaiah the “Fifth Evangelist”, and I did so because Isaiah described what would happen to Christ for our salvation in such a way that one would think he had a front row seat at Golgotha. Not even John, the most beloved and only apostle to witness His crucifixion, wrote as detailed an account as Isaiah did. No, Isaiah the Prophet was not present, instead he received a first hand account from the very One who would suffer on that cross. So when you look at the way Isaiah spoke of future events, as if they were in his past, it’s easy to see why he is often referred to as either the fifth Evangelist or the first Apostle of Christ.

Isaiah's first reference to the Messiah is not a prophecy of His birth but a prophecy that the Jews would reject Him Isa_6:9-10. When you look at the traditions of the ancient writers you find that very seldom is the birth or childhood of a famous person mentioned. The Jews were exceptions in that they often mentioned the day of birth, but it was a man's accomplishments as an adult that gave the scribes a reason to write about him or his childhood. While Isaiah foretells many aspects of what the Messiah's life would entail, such as His birth Isa_7:14, His ministry Isa_9:1-2, and His many miracles Isa_35:5-6, it is the Lords rejection by the Jews that Isaiah mentions first. Without the Jews rejection of Christ the gentiles would not have been saved, thus it only makes sense that this would be the first prophecy Isaiah mentions. So just as they rejected the Lord time and time again throughout their history, they would also reject the very One they looked forward to for salvation.

Like many other prophets, Isaiah was also rejected and ultimately murdered by those he was sent to by the Lord. Christ would even allude to these rejection and murder in his parable of the absent landowner. Matt 21:33-44Isaiah came bearing a plan, given by God, for the restoration of the remnant of Israel who would truly return to Him. This plan also included the redemption for all mankind as Isaiah repeatedly pointed out Isa_11:10, Isa_49:1, Isa_53:10-12, Isa_59:15-16. Through Isaiah's writings, the Jews should have known that the Lord was also sending the Messiah to save the hated gentiles. As we now know, the Jews would be the first to persecute the Christians. Even before they crucified their Messiah they were expelling his believers from the sanctuaries John_9:28-34. Isaiah also conveys to us the compassion the Lord has for His chosen people and His desire for their redemption. Isa_65:19, Isa_65:24.

What an amazing prophecy! Long before I was born God knew I would be knee deep in transgressions against Him, and even before I called on His name he came to my rescue. When God destroyed the world by water, Noah and his family needed an Ark designed by God Himself to survive the Flood. As Christians, we realize that we also need a type of an Ark and for us that Ark is Christ. Through Isaiah, God gives us the blueprints for that Ark. Unlike the Ark that saved Noah and his family however, the Ark Christians depend upon was completely constructed by God. It is this Ark that was promised from the day Adam and Eve ate from the “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil”.Gen_3:1-7 Isaiah wrote about this some 760 years before the birth of Christ. Throughout the Bible we have evidence of the Lord's promises, and all we need to do is have faith in those promises, just as we have faith in the promise Jesus gave Nicodemus . “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. Jhn_3:16 For those who are skeptical about the timing of these prophecies, the evidence we have is backed up by many overwhelming facts as to the Historicity of the Scriptures. When the “Dead Sea Scrolls” were discovered, it was learned that the current translation of Isaiah has not changed through the years, other than a few nondescript grammatical errors. But probably the best proof of God's promises is the fulfillment by Jesus of the more than 120 Isaiah prophecies about the coming Messiah. Along with hundreds of other Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus, I believe it takes an act of mental ignorance to ignore the prophetic evidence of God's faithfulness to follow through on His promises.

As for me, I have no reason to doubt the future fulfillment of the Lord's remaining promises. By studying Isaiah and his many prophecies, I have learned to see what they really represent; the Eternal as opposed to the temporal. The when, where, who, and how are just temporal, but the Eternal is what is promised and that is where my hope lies. My faith through the grace of God has allowed me to be washed by the Blood of the Lamb. My parched soul has been renewed by the life giving water flowing from the Rock that follows me through this desert of sin called the world. My salvation was paid for Christ' victory on Calvary, and I am assured of eternal life because of His resurrection. While I anxiously await His return so that I may enjoy an eternal rest in His Glory, I invite you to join me by accepting Christ as your Lord and savior.

I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen

The Message Behind The Movie (A Book Review)

When I first read the title of the book, “The Message Behind The Movie” , my initial response to the title was, the message behind all the movies made today is bad! Now I don't claim to be a movie critic, but I do admit to being very critical of the product put out by Hollywood these days. It is not an opinion I have had all my life, fact is until a I gave my life to Christ I was more of an agnostic when it came to my opinion of movies. Like many Americans, I was oblivious to the influence movies and television had on the way I looked at the world. Whenever I heard others complaining about the bad influence movies had upon society I would shrug my shoulders and consider them a bit too critical for life. I mean, after all, it was just entertainment as far as I was concerned.

When I gave my life to Christ, those rose colored glasses I saw the world through cracked, and the truth began to seep into my consciousness. I began to see the world differently as I started to realize how much of my life has been influenced by the movies I have watched through the years. Eventually I became so enraged by the way Hollywood movies had become propaganda films for leftist political agendas and immoral lifestyles that I not only stopped going to movies but I also gave up on television. So when a friend asked me to read a book about the movies, I hesitated until I read the title, “The Message Behind The Movie”. While it was the title that grabbed my curiosity, it was the smoothness of the way the book flowed and the value of its message that made me eager to write this review.

Before I embarked upon my task however, I wanted to know what those whom this book is targeted towards thought about today's movies. In a recent poll of 2513 people, 71% responded that many movies are bad and some are good, while 17% said that all movies are garbage. Interestingly, only 10% thought movies were either harmless entertainment or mostly good. Here is a sampling of some comments I received as to the question I posted on FreeRepublic.com &; PostScripts.com, “What's Your Opinion of Today's Movies”;

Libby (PS) “The current penchant for remakes is kinda creepy. The youngsters have nothing of their own to say? ”

Jim (PS) “Let me clarify my thought about bad movies. It's a lot like fast food, most of which is unhealthy junk. However a lot of people are willing to pay for this junk, so these companies stay in business.”

Jack (PS) “I believe that movies today are designed for people with a low IQ or low education, since they mostly appeal to prurient interests or things that go boom!”

Petronski (FR) “At least two, maybe three, films per year are really quite good. ”

robomatik (FR) “good movies are rare, but Hollywood does put out a few good ones from time to time.”

demshateGod (FR) “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (Psalm 1:1) That pretty much rules out all movies.”

RoadTest (FR) “My opinion of today’s movies is that they are unfit for human consumption.

Check6 (FR) “Much worse than worthless. ”

Tammy8 (FR) “I don’t watch many movies- I hate to spend good money and be disappointed.. it takes the right kind of movie to even interest hubby and I. ”

TheOldLady “Movies are one of the ways that the left has taken over the country.......... If it’s too much propaganda and not enough entertainment, we just hit “eject”.......

Then there was this comment by a Freeper named, 3catsanadog that pretty much summed up my take;

3catsanadog “There are not too many movies made anymore that will inspire me to get out and watch them in a theater. I also don't feel like spending my hard earned money on some lib propaganda and lib movie star.”

My feeling towards movies put me with the 90% who find very little, if anything, redeemable in today's movies. When considering those the author is trying to reach, I must admit that I would be a prime candidate to see if reading his book proves valuable in the task that he proposes.

Douglas Beaumont, the author, is an instructor at Southern Evangelical Seminary where he is also pursuing a Ph.D. in philosophy of religion. A self-proclaimed movie junkie, Doug wanted to unite his interest in theology, philosophy, and apologetics with his love of film. In “The Message Behind The Movie”, Doug attempts to help the reader do a better job of interacting with the secular culture by understanding the movies that shape and reveal it. By introducing various aspects of how a story is told the reader will find himself better equiped to steer non-believers into discussions about faith, a process the author calls cinevangelism. It may seem strange and almost heretical to mention secular entertainment and evangelism in the same sentence, but in Acts 17 Paul himself used Greek philosophical arguments from creation to lead pagan philosophers to Christ. It is these kinds of eye opening methods that Doug leads the reader through while providing a foundation of Scriptural truths that will help a believer properly evaluate a movie.

“The Message Behind The Movie” is written in three acts much like the ancient structure of plays were divided by Aristotle into three acts. Each act is then divided into chapters that explain how stories and characters develop along established patterns that have been followed since Syd Field wrote his landmark book, “Screenplay”. These lessons are significant when you consider that most moviegoers don’t usually think in terms of character or structure while watching a movie. The book will inevitably bless even the most experienced of movie buffs.

Act One, the author explains how movies communicate through various means and how to understand the way stories are told. The reader is introduced to such characters as the protagonist and the herald, along with how to pay attention to the sights and sounds. The first section closes out with a discussion of the way the story is told, its supposition presented, and how to put all this information into practice so you can properly understand a film. By the end of the first section you have a better understanding of how to let a movie speak for itself without distractions interfering with its message. I was unable to set the book down at this point, as I was eagerly awaiting the next section and the lessons I would glean from it.

Act Two gives the reader a lesson in how to properly discuss and evaluate the different aspects of a movie, whether that be religious, philosophical, theological, or Scriptural. It is no secret that Hollywood either portrays Christianity as an outdated religion whose followers are narrow minded, or it presents a false gospel that leads people away from the truth. This section was my favorite in that Doug shows off his apologetical skills by presenting various lessons on how to defend the faith and by pointing out negatives and positives of the movie's message, without getting into a deep religious discussion that would turn off non Christians.

In the final chapter, Act Three, the author discusses the issues that Christians raise about the value of movies and introduces principles that can be applied when choosing which movies to watch and which ones to avoid. Many Christians, in defending their stance for or against movies, will use various verses from the Bible. The author takes these Scriptures and puts them in their proper context to help the reader better understand his take on the value movies can have for cinevangelizing. As I finished reading this last chapter I must honestly say I felt better equipped to not only understand the message behind the movie, but also how to use the message as a tool to defend and proclaim my faith as a Christian. It is my opinion that Christians who enjoy going to the movies should read “The Message Behind The Movie”, before they see their next film. I understand Sandra Bullock has a new movie called “The Proposal” playing at the theater; I think I'll take my wife to the movies.

A Question of Hermaphroditism and Choice

by Chuck Ness

To all who may ponder the question, how does a hermaphrodite feel and think about the way the world treats them. This is a Christian woman’s walk through life as she came to grips with the deformity known as hermaphroditism, she was born with. Today the growing use of the term “Intersexed’ is replacing the word hermaphrodite. I present this only because I desire truth and open discussions about the things in life that can make all men stumble. Whether that stone we stumble upon is our reaction to the choices of others, deformities some are born with, or the way we perceive what God would want us to be like.

It is no secret as to where I stand upon the question of homosexuality, but I was asked about the deformity of the hermaphrodites, and how I would determine what is right or wrong for them when it comes to sexual preference as to the discussion of the gay lifestyle. Allow me to present a story I found that will make everyone think.

As I said this is a story of one woman’s struggle with her deformity.

A Private Little Hell…

Growing up I thought I was the only one who suffered the way I did. I had not even heard the word hermaphrodite let alone understand I was one. All I knew was that some thing was wrong…dreadfully wrong. With the advent of the internet I found just how many other people out there shared my private little hell. Society treats us two ways…they, like most of our parents, usually pretend we don’t exist. If they do think about us we are the bearded ladies at the circus…the strange little freaks with one breast in old circus advertisements they have seen. The problem is that we are real people, with real feelings and we are being torn apart. Mostly by society…but even worse by ourselves. There, as Shakespeare once said, lays the rub. When society is confronted by the reality of the situation they usually find themselves floating down the river Nile/Denial. We are perhaps the only segment of society that are denied our right to our most basic identity…our gender. There are so many different reactions to this that they are too numerous to mention. What the result is, however, is that all hermaphrodites, no matter what the form, share one thing in common…a private little hell that few people who are not born this way can entirely understand. It is also a private little hell that only the hermaphrodite can find their way out of…as my dear sister so recently pointed out to me…

Tragically, most hermaphrodites share one other thing in common…the reaction to the private little hell. We all reach our breaking point at different points in our life. I once met a woman (a hermaphrodite) who reacted to her inability to cope with the hatred society hurled at her on a daily basis by sticking a shotgun in her mouth and pulling the trigger…it didn’t go off. Another close friend, also a hermaphrodite, tried to kill himself five times. The last time he almost succeeded…almost. He had a purpose in life that only the Lord Jesus Christ knows. It was the process of digging my own way out of this private little hell that finally brought me to an understanding of the true path God had in store for me.

Here is the rest of her story, you will find it about 1/3 of the way down the page titled; A Private Little Hell…

The Attempted Destruction of a Self Made Woman

by Chuck Ness

I have never been a big fan of the Huffington Post, but I do believe in watching the enemy, so you can just imagine my shock when I read this article that took the left to task for attacking Sarah Palin as savagely as the left has.

Heather Robinson writes that in the aftermath of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s announcement last weekend that she plans to resign from office, pundits have been scrambling for an explanation. Personally, the whole matter has left me feeling a little like I did at the end of seventh grade, after a year spent passively watching bullies ostracize and pick on one of the only black girls in the school: sick, and embarrassed for all of us.

Whatever your passionate opinions, whatever your disagreements with her views, this woman and her family were savaged in a manner that went beyond any reasonable standard. She is a public figure, but her husband and children are not. That did not stop certain members of the media and blogosphere from ridiculing them in vicious fashion, even long after the election was decided. President Obama, to his credit, spoke out against it. Would that more of his supporters had shown the same level of decency. You can read the whole article here called, “The Savaging of Sarah Palin“.

Personally I knew the day would come when more and more women would wake up to what has been happening. And yes, even liberal women are coming around to the fact that the overwhelming savage treatment of Palin and her family is just plain wrong.

The very things liberal feminists have cried about for decades- objectification and beautification- are the very things they are now using as sticks to beat a woman, who if she had a D behind her name, would be hailed as an historic feminist icon. Women writers, both liberal and alleged conservatives, have done nothing more than reveal bitter jealousy over Palin’s looks, and quite possible, her happily married life. Sure, they’ll scoff at that notion. But Palin represents everything they preach about but can never attain due to self-inflicted lack of self-worth and shrew-like self-loathing.

Strong women, who still disagree with her politically, know that Palin has been treated unfairly. And as I predicted not too long ago, they will start looking at her as a seriously icon for women, and quite possibly as a candidate for President.

It sounds ridiculous, but the person to thank for this is Hillary Clinton. The way she was treated by her own party opened the eyes of many women and revealed the dirty secret of Democrats- women are only good for EOE and diversity statistics, but certainly not for President. The borderline misogyny from Democrats left many liberal feminist’s jaws on the floor. The part ‘for women’ had become the party that used women, just like it uses blacks, gays and everyone else it needs to appeal tolerant and inclusive.

From a strategic standpoint, these continued attacks are also proving to have the reverse effect and are making Sarah a sympathetic figure. When Bob Beckel not only admits on Fox the treatment of Sarah has been over the top, but that having been a part of it, he now realizes it was wrong, you know liberals are scared because their plan of marginalizing Palin has backfired badly.

I am not saying I totally agree with all her points, but just a cursory look will show that the alliances on the left that joined forces in an attempt to destroy Sarah are beginning to fall apart. As I look around at the many feminist blogs I watch I can see the handwriting on the wall already. One such place site is called the “Reclusive Leftist, and it is a pro feminist blog, but the July 4th article called Feminists and the mystery of Sarah Palin , is an article that was devoted to trying to figure out why feminists have such a rabid hatred for Palin.

Even since then they have softened up to Sarah and are beginning to like her. The lady in charge over there seems genuinely confused as to why feminists are attacking another woman who is strong, accomplished, smart, and holds a position of power. Many of the comments are in the same vein, and ask why are they trashing this woman and repeating lies that have been proven false or could be with a bit of research? why the vitriol? Many of the commenters say they would not vote for Palin due to political ideology, but they are giving her the benefit of the doubt and researching the facts. I find it interesting the way feminist women are beginning to wake up and smell the Marxism, misogynist racist mentality and anti-Americanism of the left.

Socialism, A Return to Feudalism and the Dark Ages

by Chuck Ness

As I read the article on the Reformation, I was struck by the way the Muslim in the White House and his socialist buddies in congress are trying to return us back to the feudal days, where everything including the people are owned by the government. As good serfs, we are to just shut up and follow the rules and regulations set in place by today’s church (which is the church of environmentalism ie..global warming and other earth worshiping entities), the nobles (congress and bureaucrats put in place by congress), and the monarch(Obama and any other Democrat President the media loves). Then if the government or the new church needs more money, we have the media playing the part of Johann-Tetzel, running around demanding we give more or we will all go to environmentalism hell.

In order to get us where they can completely control us they will need a new “Dark Age”. Do you remember the “Dark Ages’ from your history class? Well, those centuries were called the “Dark Ages” because it was a time when not much was accomplished. You could say it was as if someone had turned off the lights, because there was no new achievements in science, art, or literateur. The economy was so bad that men would literally be walking around naked because they were so poor. For protection and sustenance people looked to those who could provide for their basic needs because they could not do it for themselves. Well, we now have a situation in America where our enlightened leaders have all but destroyed the great job producing economy that we had. And as if things were not bad enough, they are ready to pass the cap and trade legislation, begin a value added tax, and they are working overtime to give us a nationalized health care system. Soon we will again be living in the “Dark Ages” that they need to keep us under control.

Once we are there they will need to continue the fear to keep us in check, and that fear will be what has already worked for them. The fear of rich capitalists and private entrepreneurs. They will continue to use the public education system to promote their religion of earth worship as their John Tetsels in the media help to spread their propaganda. These media yes men will convince the masses that our beloved monarch and his nobles only want what is best for us and that we need to let them have more of our money to do it. We will be constantly reminded of how the evil capitalists only want to destroy the planet, starve old people and force children to work in sweat shops. So to protect us from the horribly mean entrepreneurs they will ensure that every business is unionized and that the owner does not make exuberant profits off the backs of the hard working serfs.

Then to make sure all the serfs do not have time to think about their loss of freedom, they will just continue using the same mode of anesthesia the Romans used, entertainment. Hollywood, and sports heroes will continue to be allowed their million dollar paydays as long as they keep amusing the public so they won’t realize how miserable they really are. As the years pass by, anyone who has not sold their estates to the government through inheritance taxes will be demonized and forced off their lands. In return for helping to control the evil capitalists, the union thugs will be given more control of businesses as the owners will be forced to capitulate at the whim of the feudal lords.

Through all this we will see the usual suspects (liberals zombie voters) defending this unholy trinity of church, state, and media. All the while us, the people, slowly become serfs working for our keep and being told that we should be happy with our lot in life. Question is, are you just going to just sit back and let this happen or are you going to start speaking up and taking a stand for democracy before it is too late and we are again living in a feudal system of the new “Dark Ages”?

Little Boy Blue Devil

by Chuck Ness

Does everyone remember the Duke Lacrosse rape incident where three white team members were accused accused of raping a black “exotic dancer”, and there was absolutely no evidence to support her story? Remember the way the MSM got on board with Jesse Jackson Al Sharpton and the whole whole PC world came down upon the boys involved and the whole team was destroyed by the lies.

Well I will be most interesting to watch the Duke faculty respond to the recent allegations towards one of their own. Oh, you say you haven’t heard anything about Frank Lombard, the associate director of the Center for Health Policy at Duke University charged with the crime of offering his adopted 5-year-old son for sex? I am sure ABC, NBC, CBS, NY Times, SF Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, CNBC, MSNBC, PBS, FOX, and all the other MSM outlets are still working on their final draft of the story. After all they would not want to jump the gun and accuse anyone of doing something they did not do, would they?

See, I ask this because of the way they all wasted little time in responding to the allegations against several white Duke Lacrosse players who were accused of raping a black stripper. I remember when the media touted the 88 professors and faculty members who signed a statement accusing the players of racism and rape. Along with the MSM, They cared so much about the presumption of innocence, that they demanded the Lacrosse team be disbanded and ejected from campus. However, when it was proved they were innocent, not one member of the faculty of any of the professors who the statement ever apologized for the miscarriage of justice or for the way the team was humiliated in public.

Now we have a Duke faculty administrator himself arrested for pedophilia and sexual abuse by the FBI and there is silence from the faculty, and the MSM. Not only that, but the boy is black and the black community is quiet. Where is Sharpton? Where is Jackson? And where is our President? Or the congressional members of Congress who are demanding reparations for slavery of blacks in America?

In the detective’s affidavit it states that Lombard identified himself online as “perv dad for fun”, and says that in an online chat with the detective, Lombard said he had sexually molested his son, whom he adopted as an infant. The court papers say Lombard also invited the undercover detective to North Carolina to have sex with the young boy, and even suggested which hotel he should use. Lombard was charged in federal court in Washington with attempting to induce someone to cross state lines to engage in sex with a child. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Also according to the affidavit, Lombard bragged to the detective that “the abuse of the child was easier when the child was too young to talk or know what was happening, but that he had drugged the child with Benadryl during the molestation.” Dr. Judith Reisman Ph.D. who has researched this type of activity extensively points to this pattern of child sexual abuse and male homosexuals that should be seen as a validation of studies suggesting that homosexual men are more than 40 times more likely than the general population to molest young boys. Dr Reisman said that these clearly show that “You’re looking at a much higher rate of abuse,”. This goes right in line with other studies that show homosexuals are more likely to have been abused themselves as children. Statistics also show that children that are abused are more likely to become abusers with as many as 70% of parents who abuse having also been abused themselves.

You can read more about it (but beware it is pretty sick with all the details) here: Frank Lombard Was Looking For Some “Perv Fam Fun”.

More and more we are seeing black infants being adopted by homosexuals because many local social service agencies consider the black adoption by a white homosexual men a great way to show how open they are to all lifestyles. These children are adopted as infants, often at great expense, while never knowing anything different than the idea it is ok to be gay. This is why the homosexual activists raised such a stink for the right to adopt. It is just one more shameful way our society has allowed the homosexual culture to go mainstream as we just sit back allowing them to adopt infants and raise them as homosexuals so they can propagate their sick lifestyles.

One last thing I learned as I prepared this story. It seems you can pick up almost any gay travel guide, and see a good portion of them telling you where you can find underage boys in the destination of your choice. Look at normal, (Yes I said Normal), travel guides and you will never see such despicable information where perverts can find underage boys. Amazingly the article I read says that nearly 100% of gay travel guides have this sort of information, while 0% of non gay travel guides have such information.

“Democrat Senator & Drug Money!”

by Chuck Ness

In a story that is sure to make waves, a prominent United States Senator has accepted money from Drug cartels while sitting on the very committee that oversees such activity. This article was written by a beat reporter for the Montana Lee Newspapers State Bureau. The reporter writes for four daily newspapers in Montana and covers the area of legal and illegal drug dealings in Montana and nationally. Go here to read Amy Goodman’s complete interview of Mike Dennison and his story on Senator Max Baucus ‘s dealings with these drug cartels.

Montana Senator Max Baucus, the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, is the Senate’s point man on healthcare reform. A new article in the Montana Standard finds that Senator Baucus has received more campaign money from health and insurance industry interests than any other member of Congress. The article says, “In the past six years, nearly one-fourth of every dime raised by Baucus and his political-action committee has come from groups and individuals associated with drug companies, insurers, hospitals, medical-supply firms, health-service companies and other health professionals.”

AMY GOODMAN:

Montana Senator Max Baucus, the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, is the Senate’s point man on healthcare reform. Over the past few weeks, he’s held a series of hearings on the issue. Senator Baucus has said a national single-payer healthcare system is “off the table,” has refused to include any single-payer advocates in the committee hearings. He eventually met with single-payer advocates after a series of protests, in which thirteen people were arrested after being thrown out of his hearings. However, he expressed no willingness to reverse his principled opposition to a single-payer system that would eliminate for-profit healthcare.

Now, a new article in the Montana Standard finds Senator Baucus has received more campaign money from health and insurance industry interests than any other member of Congress. The article says, “In the past six years, nearly one-fourth of every dime raised by Baucus and his political-action committee has come from groups and individuals associated with drug companies, insurers, hospitals, medical-supply firms, health-service companies and other health professionals.”

The article was written by Mike Dennison, a reporter for the Montana Lee Newspapers State Bureau. He writes for four daily newspapers in Montana and covers healthcare closely. He recently interviewed Senator Baucus twice on the issue. He joins us by Democracy Now! video stream from his home in Helena. Mike, welcome to Democracy Now! Go through the financial support that Senator Baucus gets from the health insurance industry.

MIKE DENNISON:

We’re talking about the health insurance industry and the health industry, which is HMOs, hospitals, physicians, pharmaceutical companies–that’s probably where the bulk of his money has come from. The report that we prepared showed, out of about almost $15 million he’s raised in the last six years, both for his campaign….continue reading Mike Dennison’s interview here.

A Love Letter from Our Heavenly Father

Author Unknown

When asked by His disciples to teach them how to pray as John's disciples prayed, Jesus gave them this prayer as a model. Luke 11:1-2

"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen." Matthew 6:9-13

When you read the Bible, you are not just reading one book, instead you are reading a compilation of sixty six books. I like to think of them as sixty six love letters from the lover of our soul, our Father in heaven. On this Fathers Day, I would like to present a love letter, from our heavenly Father to us.

My child, you may not know who I AM, but I know everything about you. I know when you sit down and when you rise up, and what you are thinking. I AM familiar with all your words and your ways, Psalm 139:1-4 I even know how many hairs are upon your head. Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in My image, Genesis 1:27 and in Me you live, move and have your being. You are My offspring Acts 17:28 whom I knew before you were even conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5 Do not think that you were a mistake or made by chance, because I personally knitted you together in your mother's womb so that you would be fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-16 On the day of your birth when I brought you forth, Psalm 71:6 I not only knew the exact time of your birth and where you will live, Acts 17:26 but I also know when you will die. Job 14:5 & Ecclesiastes 3:1

Those who do not know Me have misrepresented Me, John 8:41-44 but let Me assure you that I AM neither distant nor angry. Fact is, I AM the complete expression of love, 1 John 4:16 and it is My desire to bestow My love upon you. I do this simply because you are My child and I AM your Father. 1 John 3:1 And because I am perfect, Matthew 5:48 I can offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

I AM the One who provides all your needs, Matthew 6:31-33 all the good gifts that you receive come from My hand. James 1:17 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope, Jeremiah 29:11 because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sands on the seashore, Psalms 139:17-18 and I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 While showing you great and marvelous things Jeremiah 33:3 I will never cease from doing good to you, Jeremiah 32:40 because you are My treasured possession. Exodus 19:5 If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me. Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart, Psalm 37:4 because it is I who gave those desires to you. Philippians 2:13 I AM your greatest encourager 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 and I AM able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

I AM also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I AM close to you. Psalm 34:18 Like a shepherd who carries a lamb, I will carry you during your times of and frailty and hold you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11 Then one day soon, I will wipe away every tear from your eyes Revelation 21:3-4 and take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4 As I said, I AM your Father, and I love you even as I love My own Son Jesus, John 17:23 in whom My love for you is revealed. John 17:26

You see, My Son is the exact representation of My being, Hebrews 1:3 and He came to demonstrate that I AM for you, not against you. Romans 8:31 He also assured you that if you believe in Him I will not count your sins against you. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 because He would pay the price for all the people. John 1:49-51 My child, I love you so much that I do not wish to condemn you but instead I gave My only Son for you, John 3:16-17 so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death is sufficient to cover all your sins, 1 John 4:10 and if you accept, and receive My Son, then you shall also receive Me. 1 John 2:23

It is my promise that nothing will ever separate you from My love again, Romans 8:38-39 and that the good work I began in you, I will perform it until the day My Son returns. So come home to Me now, and I will throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7 I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15 My question to you is, "Will you be My child?" John 1:12-13 Come, I AM waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the lord Jesus Christ.
Amen

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 Does A Parallel Spirit World Exist

Is There A Parallel Spirit World?

by Chuck Ness

In today's technological age, it might seem silly for intelligent people to consider a spiritual world where beings we cannot see might exist. Oh it's fine to read books and watch Hollywood movies about the afterlife and spirits that roam the netherworld but that's all make believe, not the real world. In the real world we are taught that reality consists of what we can touch, taste, see, hear, smell, and that the spirit world is for those weak minded individuals who use religion as a crutch to get through the day.

However, what if I told you that scientists have concluded that there is a strong possibility that a parallel universe really does exist? Now, as a Christian I do not need proof that a spirit world exists, but it is my belief that God wants us to do our utmost to understand what it is He has Created.

That being said, the Spirit World is an aspect of God's Creation that we can only speculate upon just as Rene Descartes, the father of modern day philosophy did. Descartes admitted that God was the Creator of the world, but he believed that the spiritual world existed solely in the minds of men. So I guess the question would be, does a parallel spirit world exist, or is it just a figment of our fertile imaginations?

I would suggest that in order to properly answer that question, we need to first realize that God gave us a mind and the ability to think on a level with Him, if only we allow ourselves to put the silly notions of men aside.

One silly notion is that reality only exists within the dimension that our physical bodies dwell in. In other words, most modern day philosophers follow Descartes and claim that our whole existence is based upon our five senses. But then they must totally ignore modern science that proves a spirit world can and does exist even if we may have difficulty imagining it.

Consider for a moment how much more space is in an atom than solid matter, in fact there are some 30,000 times more space than there is mass. A hydrogen atom made up of one proton and a single orbiting electron is a perfect example of the enormous amount of space in an atom.

If you could enlarge the proton of a hydrogen atom to the size of a baseball, the electron of that atom would be about the size of a BB rotating around the proton ten miles away at the speed of 10,000 miles a second. Now if the earth were a proton and the moon an electron and the space between them had the same ratio that exists in a hydrogen atom, the moon would be 1,000 times farther away than it is now. I know, it can be a bit difficult to wrap your brain around it.

Think of it this way, if all the atoms in your body should suddenly collapse, leaving no space between the solid matter, we would need a very powerful microscope to find you. You would, in essence, be a microscopic speck of dust, but you would still weigh exactly what you do now. Being the cosmic glue He is, I thank the Lord Jesus for holding it all together for us. (Hebrews 1:3)

Now let's consider the dwarf stars whose density is much greater than that of atoms on earth. There is a star of the first magnitude called Sirius also called the, “Dog Star”, in 1888 they discovered it was actually a double star. The smaller of the two stars is called Sirius B, also referred to as “A pup”.

This pup is a dwarf star that rotates around the major star. The density of this pup is thought to be so great that one cubic inch of Sirius B would weigh 1,700 pounds by earth’s gravitational standards. By comparison a neutron star is about a million times denser than these dwarf stars are. One cubic inch of a neutron star would weigh 1.75 billion pounds. And still there is space in that cubic inch.

So, knowing that all this space exists in an atom, many experts in the field of atomic energy have come to the conclusion that it is theoretically possible for parallel worlds to coexist at the same time in the same space, both passing through the other, unaware of the each others existence. All it would take they theorize, is for each world to be made up of different molecular structures. I would suggest that these highly educated molecular scientists read what the Scriptures have to say about the idea of a parallel universe.

Throughout the Bible we find evidence of a coexisting world where God, His angels and even Satan live. Outside of the influence that they exert on our lives, we are unaware of their presence. They see us and interact with us on a daily basis by exerting a tremendous amount of influence to direct us in a Godly way or an evil way. Paul told the Ephesians that “we do not struggle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

There are numerous examples in the Scriptures of members from the spiritual world crossing over and making themselves known to members of man's tangible world. After all, to those in the spiritual world there is no wall separating us, the only separation exists in man's inability to see their world. Be it a lack of faith or the way God just wants it to be, I believe it to be the duty of all God's children to understand it.

In 2Kings 6:8-23 we have the account of Elisha asking God to open the eyes of his servant so he could see that the Lord had surrounded the Arameans with a myriad of horses and chariots of fire. There is also the time when God allowed Satan to tempt Job, Job 1:6-12 and how about the classic example of when the angel spoke to Balaam through his donkey. Numbers 22:22-33 Tow more examples are the night Jacob wrestled with an angel in Genesis 32:22-32, and the conversion of the Christian persecutor Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9:1-30. Now there are those who will argue that Jacob was actually wrestling with a Christophany, or a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. However, that's for another article.

From the moment God spoke the universe into existence there have been two separate universes coexisting together. Even in the most ancient of times various pagan religions consisted of beings from a coexisting but separate world that would from time to time interact with mortals of this world.

Christianity though, is the only religion whose very core consists of its very God entering man's world, living in a mortal body to experience punishment and death for the specific purpose of saving man from his sins. Through His death and ultimate resurrection we now have the chance to actually live in His spiritual world for eternity.

It is amazing when you consider the technological advancements we have made in molecular science, that after rejecting the idea for years, some scientists are now saying "yes" to the theory of parallel worlds. For thousands of years those who believe in God have believed in a spirit world, now finally, science has caught with us.

I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the lord Jesus Christ.
Amen

"Light Of The World"

When a person thinks about light, usually the first thing that will come to mind is the sun. We have been taught that the sun is the center of the solar system and thus it is the light of the world. This ball of fire that life on earth depends upon, is so massive in size that it contains 99.85% of all the matter in the Solar System, or 332,800 times that of earth. The distance from earth to the sun is 93,000,000 miles, which would take you 71 years to travel going 150 mph. The sun creates energy by burning several hundred million tons of hydrogen per second, converting it to helium by nuclear fusion. This process causes the surface temperature to be about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and scientists have calculated that there is nothing which can stop the light emitted by this fireball from expanding outwards forever. So taking all these factors and other information into consideration you would think that the sun is the light of the world but that is not what the Scriptures tell us. In Genesis we learn that God created light on the first day, (Genesis 1:4-5) but he did not create the sun until the fourth day. (Genesis 1:16-17) Now I could argue with scientists and cosmologists over their understanding of creation and my understanding of the Bible, but that is not the subject of today's message. Today's message is about Jesus being the “Light of the World” and how His followers should be a reflection of His light for the world to see.

We know the bible says that light was created on the first day, but then we read in John's Gospel that Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness, and that light comes from God, and the light is God. (John 1:1-5) Later in John's Gospel we read that Jesus Himself declares that He is "Light of the World", and that whoever follows Him shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life. (John 8:12) He also said that as believers, we are to be the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14) Let us consider what Jesus meant when He said he was “The Light”. Well, He certainly did not mean that He was a glowing light bulb walking around like some illuminated spirit. Remember, while Jesus walked and taught among His disciples 2000 years ago, He was as John testified, a real man. (1 John 1:1-3) Now the Bible does describe heavenly beings as angels of light, as was the angel in Acts 12:7 who released Peter from prison. However, Jesus was specifically speaking of what he came to do, and when He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath in His hometown of Nazareth He tells us what that is. Reading from the book of Isaiah Jesus told the men that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him and that He was anointed to preach the good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners, recover the sight of the blind, release the oppressed, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:16-18)

Essentially, the life of Christ on earth was all about bringing life to mankind as described in John 1:4, "In him was life, and that life was the light of men." This means he brought hope and restoration to a world of hopelessness and broken-ness. He freed some from the prison of sickness, others from the loneliness of being an outcast or low class, and a few from the grips of death itself. The teaching of Jesus freed people from their ignorance concerning God, His kingdom, the meaning of obedience, and the way of salvation. He also freed the lost from their sins by granting forgiveness, but the most important lesson we learn from the life of Jesus is His sacrificial act of offering himself on the cross to take away the sin of the world. John the baptist declared, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John. 1:29), and Jesus says of himself, "For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many". (Mark 10:45)

Jesus came to display all the goodness of God through His caring acts toward people. He came teaching truth, and to bear the punishment for our sin. In all these ways Jesus is the light of the world, and as the light, He calls for His followers to reflect His light on the world while we still live in it. Like Moses, whose face glowed after being in the presence of God, we shine because we have the light of Jesus in our lives. (Exodus 34:29-35) His presence helps us fight the battle against darkness by bringing truth to the blind, and hope to those burdened by sin. We bring acceptance to the forgotten and unloved, joy to the sad, reason and calmness to the impatient, and to those confused about life we bring God’s word. This is the light that Jesus promised those who follow and obey Him, and this is the way the light can and should affect us. (John 8:12)

This light also attracts others indwelled with the Light of life, and together we form the church that Christ promised would stand the test of time. When Christians stand together we can shine as bright as the sun, and our light will reach as far as infinity. Those who do not understand us will be effected by the glow of our love and truth in a positive way. Kevin Roose was effected in this way when he decided to go to Lynchburg, Va., and enroll at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. Roose pretended he was an evangelical Christian while he attended summer classes so that he could blend in and get the scoop about Jerry Falwell's extreme radical Christian University. Roose would eventually include the lessons he learned about the School and the students who attend it in a book called , “The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University.”

So what was the biggest result of this young man's experience you may ask? Well after the semester was over Kevin came away with a change of mind and a change of heart towards what he used to think about Christians, and Liberty University. First he made friends with Christians to the point where they became some of his best friends. This is a direct result of the light Christ spoke of when he said, "You are the light of the world... let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven". (Matthew 5:14-15) These young Christians allowed the light of Christ to shine in the presence of Kevin. Even more significant was the change that Kevin realized in himself. He discovered that, as a person, he has a spiritual side that includes the idea that God exists and that talking to God is not only a worthwhile experience but a meaningful, powerful and beautiful one.

When Kevin had to came forth with the truth of his undercover charade, he was sure that all the friends he has made would turn on him. However he learned one more lesson about God and His children, a true Christian holds no grudge and hates no man. Now that Kevin is back at Brown University, he has gotten back to doing almost everything the way he used to. However, there is one little thing that Kevin has picked up from his semester at Liberty University that he says he will never stop doing. Kevin tries to pray to God everyday, and he has come to the realization that praying to God has changed him, and in turn he changes things around him. See, Kevin was touched by the light of Christ that was shining from the students of Liberty University, and it is my prayer that Kevin allows that light to grow within him until it becomes the center of his spiritual solar system.

I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION OF TODAY’S MOVIES?”

by Chuck Ness

I am currently reading a book written by a Christian apologist from the Southern Evangelical Seminary. This book is about the movies and how to engage them while not disengaging your faith or morals. I have been asked by the author to write a review for his book in the hopes of generating interest. When I finish reading it I plan on posting the article on Post Scripts for everyone to read. While I’m reading the book, I would like to get an idea of your opinion of today’s movies. I have set up a blog specifically to ask the poll question: “What’s Your Opinion of Today’s Movies?” Please follow the link to cast your vote.

I would also like for you to pass this on to everyone of your friends. the more participation It receives the better idea i’ll have of what most people think of today’s movies. So ask everyone you know to go to the site and vote. I will be leaving this poll up until June, 7, 2009 at 11:59 PM, at which time I will use the results of the poll in my review of the book. As I said, when the article is finished, I will post it here at Post Scripts so everyone will have a chance to comment.

Well, I hope to get many, many, many, who will answer my poll question.

Is Slavery Evil?

The topic of slavery is usually accompanied by bitter feelings and condemnation for Americas past. Like America, many civilizations have used slavery as a means of providing labor. Samarian drawings on clay tablets dating back to 4000 BC show captives taken in battle being tied, whipped, and forced to work. Then there are ancient papyrus manuscripts from 2100 BC that record the ownership of slaves by private citizens in Egypt. The earliest mention of slavery in the Bible would be Genesis 9:25 when Noah cursed the descendants of Canaan. From Abraham on down we read of the men in the Bible owning slaves and the Israelites themselves becoming slaves, but never do we read of God condemning slavery. We do read of Him telling Moses how to treat slaves in Exodus chapter 21, but neither God nor Jesus ever condemned the practice.

This absence of any condemnation towards slavery has led many critics to claim that the God of the Christianity and the Bible is evil. Instead of trying to understand why God would not expressly forbid the practice of slavery, I often hear Christians defending God's silence on the evils of slavery. Like Job's friends who defended God by foolishly condemning Job, Christians often times defend God in a rather foolish way by condemning slavery. It's almost as if Christians think that somehow God just forgot to mention the evils of slavery in the Scriptures. I do believe that the practice of slavery in the Bible needs to be addressed. But not to defend God's lack of condemnation, but rather to better understand God's reasoning for not condemning it.

Here's where many will disagree with me, but as I study the Scriptures and understand God's word, I can only conclude that God did not condemn slavery because slavery is not evil. Throughout history, men have willingly chosen to be in servitude to others rather than put their future in their own hands, God even made arrangments for such a desire. “.....if the servant plainly says, "I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,”...... his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever. Exodus 21:5-6 So, while there have always has been evil masters who abuse their slaves, God obviously knew that there would be good slave owners. God specifically condemned treating others in an evil way. Man being evil in his treatment of others does not make the practice of slavery itself wrong just as a husband's abuse of his wife does not make marriage evil.

It is my position that the bible does not condemn slavery because our human positions in life is not what the gospel is concerned with. To say that the very concept of slavery is wrong is to say that God's salvation is an evil practice. That is because the concept of total submission and slavery is at the very heart of Christ's gospel; in order to be saved you have to be a slave to Christ. God is the one who chose us, he is the one who saved us, and He is the one who paid the price to buy us with the very blood of His Son, Jesus.

Human slavery is a very tragic and sobering part of history. The fact that godly people in the Bible owned slaves, only makes it more difficult for modern people to understand. As humans, its natural for all of us to want to be free rather than slaves because slavery means we are in bondage. However, even though we may want to be free, the reality is that we are not. True liberty is freedom from sin, not freedom from human bondage. Sin ultimately leads to eternal punishment of torment in Hell. Jesus Christ, whom all Christians are slaves to, broke our bondage to the slavery of sin by placing us under His light yoke and easy burden Mathew 11:30 The whole concept of slavery and servitude may be difficult for us to grasp today, but at the time when Christ taught most people understand this message of slavery.

During the time when Christianity was born, 85% of the population of the Roman Empire were slaves. It is my opinion that had any of the authors of the New Testament epistles directly attacked slavery, then there would have been revolts against the institution of slavery. The result of which would be similar to what happened to the 120,000 slaves that revolted with Spartacus in 73-71 BCE. The Roman general Crassus crucified 6000 of the survivors along the Appian Way to teach future slaves what Rome would do to them of they revolted. Instead of spreading the gospel the message of Christ would have been hopelessly confused with that of social reform. Instead of a violent revolt, Christianity worked to undermine the evils of slavery by changing the hearts of slaves and masters.

An example of this kind of heart transforming work would be the letter Paul wrote to a Christian name Philemon. The letter revolves around a slave named Onesimus who had who had stolen money and eventually ran away from his owner, Philemon. During his flight from slavery, Onesimus eventually found his way to the city of Rome, where he met Paul and accepted Christ. The apostle quickly grew to love this runaway slave and wanted to keep him in Rome. Philemon However, Paul knew that Onesimus had broken Roman Law and that he had to deal with it. So Paul sent Onesimus back to Colosse with a letter he wrote to his master Philemon. Paul urged Philemon to forgive Onesimus Philemonon and welcome him back as a slave and a brother in Christ. Now if slavery was wrong this would have been a perfect opportunity for the great apostle to condemn it. But he doesn't, he actually urges a slave to go back and serve his master.

Now I personally believe the concept of Slavery is a very deep one, and the very nature of slavery characterizes the relationship that every human being has either with God or with the Evil One. All people are slaves and it is either to sin that we are enslaved or to Romans 6:16 If God would had condemned slavery in the Scriptures, then the very message of the gospel itself would have been robbed of its meaning for us. If slavery is wrong, wives should not submit to their husbands, children should not obey parents, and no one should call Jesus his master or submit to the authority of God. It is my opinion that this is the reason the Bible does not condemn slavery, because the whole concept of Christians serving God would be meaningless.

In serving God we need to remember that it is His will we should be following. When asked how we should pray, Jesus tells us to ask for the Lord's will to be done over ours. Matthew 6:10 We are also told to deny ourselves and love God even before our own families, and we do this by taking up our cross daily and following Christ.Luke 14:26-27 When I read the New Testament, it sounds like slave talk to me, and if you are a Christian you will understand what it means to be bought and to be a slave. I realize that this is and always will be a very contentious topic and that even many Christians will disagree with me on this. However I cannot reconcile the idea in my head that God just forgot to mention that slavery was wrong, because that implies God does not know everything. Those who do not understand the true concept of slavery, not only misunderstand the very nature and character of God, but they also do not understand what it means to be a Christian.

After Mary was greeted by her cousin Elizabeth, she sang a beautiful song unto the lord, and in the song are these words, “for he has regarded the lowly state of his maidservant”. Luke 1:46-55 The Greek word used by Mary for maidservant is “doulos”, which actually means “slave” or more appropriately “bond-servant”. Here we see the very mother of Jesus referring to herself as a female slave of her master, God. Mary understood perfectly what it meant to be a slave of God, and anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior should not consider the concept of slavery insulting or evil.
I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the lord Jesus Christ.

Amen