[hello God! it's me, connie!]

QotD: The Ten Commandments

nobody@vox.com(Connie) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:46:15 -0700

Which of The Ten Commandments have you broken or would you consider breaking? Why?
Submitted by balderick24.

Ok, ok...the bad girl speaks.......

The 10 commandments I've broken......

In my life---7 (well ok, if you consider the passage where Jesus says "if you get angry at someone, you've murdered him" or the one where He says "if you lust after someone, you've commited adultery" then, ok, I guess I'm guilty of 9 of them! I'm pretty sure I've never, ever carved a graven image before.)

Since I've been a Christian (17 years)---5

This week---1; my new issue of Domino came in, and I usually want something someone else has!

Which of the 10 commandments would I consider breaking?

Before I got saved---8 of them (I've never WANTED to kill anyone; and the graven image thing was never on my list of priorities!)

Now---none of them!! C:

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QotD: Last Month of Summer

nobody@vox.com(Connie) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:05:33 -0700

What are you most looking forward to in August?

The Olympic Games.....esp Michael Phelps! Go Michael!!!!!!!!!

Oh yeah, and the new Eva Cassidy release "Somewhere"......sweet!! C:

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QotD: Lifestyles of the Rich ~or~ Famous

nobody@vox.com(Connie) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:53:00 -0700

Would you rather be rich or famous? Why?
Submitted by Chris Vaughn.

Rich definitely! Cuz then I could pay someone to make me famous if I wanted to......C:

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2 Cents-July 30, 2008

nobody@vox.com(Connie) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:36:16 -0700

A good word, Pastor! Thanks!!

Good Morning Saints,

¹When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. ²Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, ³four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. ⁴They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. ⁵Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

⁶But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, ⁷“What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

⁸Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? ⁹Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? ¹⁰So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ¹¹“Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” ¹²And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” Mark 2:1-12 (NLT)

Isn’t it true today that we often see church houses are filled to overflowing? It is not uncommon to hear of a church with hundreds and even thousands in attendance. Church attendance in and of itself sure doesn’t say anything about God being in the house though. The condition of the hearts of those in attendance speaks much more to the fact that god is moving. The character of the people attending God’s house will reveal their hearts.

How a Christian deals with the circumstances of their life speaks of their character. The trials we face in our daily lives don’t always result in creating our character but it will always reveal it. Adversity in our lives is the crossroads where we make a choice. Will it be Character or will it be Compromise? It isn’t like we don’t know what character looks like. After all we have the life of Jesus to see and He was the example we strive for. Every time you choose character over compromise you grow more into the image of the Savior. You know that your character is often revealed when no one is looking.

Paul had some thing to say about character as well…

¹Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. ²Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. ³We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ⁵And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:1-5 (NLT)

There are really some things that you need to know about character if you are going to have any. First is that character is much more than talk. Anyone can say that they have integrity but your actions will soon tell the tale. Yes, your character will ultimately define who you are. People, who are always at war with themselves, have a problem with their character. In other words those that are in the altars every Sunday yet continue to live the same way on Monday have a problem with who they really are. Their character is defining them by their actions.

¹⁸Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” James 2:18 (NLT)

¹¹Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right. Proverbs 20:11 (NLT)

The second thing to know about character is that it is a choice. There are a lot of things in this life that we have no control over, but we do and will choose our character. In fact, we create our character every time we come to a crossroads and make a choice. Will you choose the easy way or will you go the way of the cross. Will you choose to respond the way you always have or will choose to imitate Jesus. Your character will be the result of your choice.

¹⁹“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT)

And the last thing to know about character is that you will never rise above the limits of it. Haven’t you ever seen very talented people just fall apart when they reach a certain level of success? The key to going the distance successfully is found in your character. Success without that firm foundation in Christ is a recipe for disaster. It often results in the four A’s. Those are Arrogance, Aloneness, Adventure seeking and Adultery.

We do have some Biblical examples of character that we can draw from. What about Paul in the book of Acts…

¹⁸When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now ¹⁹I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. ²⁰I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. ²¹I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

²²“And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, ²³except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lay ahead. ²⁴But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:18-24 (NLT)

I heard a story about a man that took his daughter to the carnival, and she immediately ran over to a booth and asked for cotton candy. As the attendant handed her a huge ball of it, the father asked, “Sweetheart, are you sure you can eat all of that?” “Don’t worry, Dad,” she answered, “I’m a lot bigger on the inside than on the outside.” That’s what real character is – being bigger on the inside.

We began this little message with our text in the book of Mark telling us of a church service that was disturbed for the Glory of God. Mark 2:2 tells us the house was full... ²Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door… How many of you know that just because the house is full does not mean it’s full of God?

The house was full alright, but in the middle of it all were four men. They were four men of like mind and their hearts desire was to see the paralyzed man, a sinner brought to Jesus. There wasn’t anything that was going to stop them. Not pride, not manners, not the crowd of people, nothing could deter them from their goal. It was the goal of seeing this poor paralyzed sinner meet Jesus Christ, the Great Physician. Jesus recognized their faith and this man was healed. God doesn’t need great numbers of believers; He simply uses those who are men and women of character. People who are united together for the express purpose of seeing sinners meet Jesus. I tell you the truth; four of a kind beats a full house every time.

¹⁸Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
²⁰Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

They had never seen anything like this Jesus. Once experienced, he can never be forgotten and His presence is longed for in every service. Will we choose character over compromise and fulfill the Great Commission?

Rev Todd

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2 Cents-July 14, 2008

nobody@vox.com(Connie) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:57:21 -0700

From the archives-this was originally posted on Nov. 16, 2006...C:

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." James 1:12-15 (NKJV)

Most of you have probably heard of the Siegfried & Roy show in Las
Vegas. Well it was brought to a dramatic close when a seven-year-old,
white Bengal tiger attacked Roy and drug him off the stage before an
audience of 1500 people. It was Roy's 59th birthday, and shortly after
introducing the Tiger, it bit Roy on the arm. When he hit the tiger
with his microphone to back him off, the big cat grabbed him by the throat
and dragged him off stage. Spectators were shocked and said that Roy
looked like a rag doll as the tiger shook him and dragged him away.
Roy was rushed to University Medical Center for emergency surgery after he
suffered massive blood loss. Siegfried & Roy have been putting on
their act in Vegas for 30 years. They should know tigers, but this one
obviously surprised them. Siegfried tried to say that the tiger was
protecting Roy, but the tiger did not grab him by the scruff of the
neck, he grabbed him by the throat - an instinctive move to kill.
Siegfried and Roy practically live with these animals. They tame them
and train them. They become emotionally attached to them. But as
someone pointed out, the older the tiger gets the more its instinctive
wildness comes out.

I did a little research on the Internet and found that there have been
several tiger attacks in the United States. At the Savage Kingdom in
Sumter County, Florida, a Siberian tiger lunged at Vincent Lowe, the
trainer as he was fixing a fence. When he tried to use a board to push
the tiger back, it turned on him and crushed his neck and killed him.

Since 1990, tigers in the United States have killed at least six
adults and two children. More than 60 others have been seriously injured in
tiger mauling. There are now three times as many tigers in captivity,
and kept as pets, as there are in the wild.

I'm saying all this to make a point. There are many people who invite
some seemingly small sin into their lives because it looks so cute.
It's nothing all that big. It seems harmless enough until it begins to
grow. It begins to roam your house until it becomes the biggest thing in
your life. The wildness and ferocity of it finally comes out, until you
realize that you are afraid of it. Finally you wake up to the fact
that is controlling you, and has the power to bring you irreparable harm or
destroy you. It can rip you to shreds. The Bible warns us: "Be
self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

I want to begin this morning by making this first point: Never
underestimate the power of sin. I think about those people who have
taken a cute little tiger cub into their home. I have seen what a
common cat is like as far as being in charge of a house, I can hardly imagine
what a 500 pound tiger would be like. You would need a special room
just for the litter box. If he starts to mark his territory you had better
take cover. Imagine living every day with a tiger in your house.

Imagine living with some sin in your life that is roaming around in
your life like a tiger. There are real messes because of it. Worse than
that there are dangers. And it is not only you that you have placed in
danger, but also the people you love. Partying started out as a lot of
fun because there were plenty of other people doing it, and you became
accepted. But now the addictions to drugs or alcohol have defined your
life, and you are no longer in control. Sexual sin has you by the
throat and has made you its slave, and perhaps even brought unwelcome disease
into your life. You began to nurse a grudge, but now bitterness has
taken over your life. You got your way by pouting a few times, but now
you can't stop complaining and trying to control people with your
moods. It began as a friendship, progressed to flirting and ended in moral
failure. You began being aggressive when you had to stand up for your
rights, and now you trample the rights of other people by being
abusive and domineering. You have become a rage-aholic. One little white lie
led to another, then another, until now there is no way out, and you are
not sure you know what the truth is yourself anymore. You never want to
invite sin into your life no matter how small it is in the beginning.
Rev Todd

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QUANTUM PHYSICS, SCRIPTURE, GOD, AND THE SUPERNATURAL

nobody@vox.com(Connie) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:55:03 -0700

INTRODUCTION

One of the reasons I believe God has me teaching on the quantum physics as it relates to Scripture and the supernatural is this: New Age, other philosophies and religions are teaching quantum physics principles which helps explain the supernatural. The Church as a whole is not teaching on miracles or the supernatural.

If one thinks about it we should be the ones teaching on the supernatural not other religions or philosophies. We born again Christians believe God knew from the beginning that that He would send Jesus for us. He lived , was crucified, resurrected from the dead and is now in heaven. We have the Holy Spirit alive within and on us, teaching, comforting, guiding us into all truth.

SO THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND QUANTUM PHYSICS

It is very important to me because science was my obstacle in coming to Christ. I majored in chemistry and microbiology in college. There are millions who may not have an interest in science like me but who have been indoctrinated and flooded with doubt and unbelief in school, radio or TV.

Quantum physics is a branch of science now being used to prove Scripture. Does Scripture need proving maybe not to you. But it is sure helpful to people who know there is a supernatural unseen world. They are searching and believe that Church has nothing to do with the supernatural. My prayer is that someone surfing the internet will find these articles and I can help in some way with them finding a loving powerful healing God.

I can remember when television and movies were thought by some as evil and Christians better leave them alone. But that is a stick your head in the sand attitude. These are some of the best forms of communication of Christianity. So it is the same with quantum physics.

Annette Capps the daughter of Charles Capps a father in teaching on faith has written a mini book called “Quantum Faith.” It is an excellent brief but simple and completely understandable book. David Van Koevering who is a physicist and who I taught with recently has some wonderful books and CDs out. Google them on the internet if you want to do further study on quantum physics and how it relates to Scripture. Both are strong Christians who have a real grasp of quantum physics and Scripture.

SO WHAT IS QUANTUM PHYSICS

The definition of a quantum in physics is the smallest the discrete quantity of a physical property. So in short quantum physics is the study of subatomic particles.

There are two kinds of physics.

1. Classical physics- which teaches the universe acts like machine clockwork

2. Quantum physics - which teaches the universe acts like a live organism

Which physics is right? Both are right. Physics encompasses both the classical and the quantum.

In Scripture there is a similar thing. The universe is described as a clockwork machine like classical physics and also is described as responsive like as a living organism. Psalm 104:19, tells of the order of the sun and moon which acts like machine clockwork. Joshua 10:12-13, tells of Joshua speaking to the sun and moon to stand still for one day thus disrupting the order of machine clockwork action.

So my purpose in these articles is to show how quantum physics, Scripture and the supernatural relate to each other. Let me give a little history.

Max Planck (1858-1947), German physicist and Nobel laureate, who was the originator of the quantum theory which postulated that energy is radiated in small, discrete units, which he called quanta. Developing his quantum theory further, he discovered a universal constant of nature, which came to be known as Planck's constant. This states that the smallest amount of space and time in the universe is as follows:
10^-33centimeters is the small amount of space

10^-43seconds is the smallest amount of time

At the smallest amount of space and time there is not more matter but instead there is information, or possibilities. So at the lowest state of reality there are ideas and concepts. At that place in space and time, David Van Covering says it is like a froth bubbling up. I have read somewhere else it is also like bubble wrap. We can connect with this froth or bubbles, and find God’s information or possibilities for the way we live life. These are the particles or waves of potentialities that God has available for living our life.

This is my understanding. God has made each an individual with certain gifts and talents, and said He has a wonderful plan for each life. It is up to each to find out what it is. He has it readily available to all. He is always reaching out to us and has all the answers to anything that comes up in our life. It is in that froth or bubble wrap we find the answers, but He is waiting for us to grasp and live in the good plan He has ordained.

Let me illustrate. I majored in chemistry because I wanted and was given a chemistry set when I was 10 or 11 years old. I loved the experiments and wanted to study this in college but there was no way I could go to. I did not have money or parents to help me. But my Father God made a way where no way was possible. He provided jobs and I worked and studied hard. I believed the possibility that I could. I had great jobs after graduation. I loved my field of research and diagnostics. But I gave it up for Ras and my children. I was later saved and loved God, and ministering to other people.

Ras just said, “God told me we are to start writing 1000 word articles.” I have come full circle to my chemistry set. Writing on science, Scripture, God and the supernatural. How good is that?

Bev Robinson

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GOD’S GRACE IN OUR UNCERTAINTY

nobody@vox.com(Connie) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:53:34 -0700

Our natural minds tell us that uncertainty is something we should avoid with all that is within us. It is has been interesting to watch the Lord shake many things to the very core. If we are centered in Jesus for our very being where we know we are moving in Him then we can rejoice in all things.

“When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: ‘Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also’. This means that the things on earth will be shaken, so that only eternal things will be left. Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:26-29

What a promise – that our God is going to shake everything. When the Lord revealed this passage in my spirit many years ago he added another promise. Homer, your first in line for the shaking. The Lord spoke to me one morning in Ariel and told me that because of his shaking I was at a place where the only thing I had left to share with anyone was Jesus.

I know this was the desire of the Apostle Paul. He purposed to know only Jesus and him crucified. The last verse in Acts tells us that Paul preached and taught Jesus. As we look at the life of Paul we see clearly that life for him was very uncertain. Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life. A friend told me to read the April 29^th writing by Oswald Chambers in his classic edition of My Utmost for His Highest. I would encourage you to do the same. Here is one quote.

“To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God”.

The other morning the Lord woke me at 3 AM and told me that our leaving Israel will have a far greater impact than our coming into Israel. Glory! Yes, I am uncertain about what all this means, but I am certain of God. We have a great expectancy within us that our God is going to turn what looks like evil for our good. Thanks for joining with us in prayer as we praise our God together.

Yes, let God arise and watch our enemies be scattered. Have a blessed 4^th of July as we all celebrate our freedom in Him.

Blessings, Homer and Ruby Owen

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112 F (45C): How to fry a Californian in 4 days!

nobody@vox.com(Connie) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:24:42 -0700

Or "Is there life in the slow cooker?"

A nice way to cool off.....

...but I think these guys have a better idea!

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2 Cents-July 5, 2008

nobody@vox.com(Connie) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:02:09 -0700

Good Morning Saints,

¹In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. ²Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. ³And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" ⁴And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. ⁵So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts." Isaiah 6:1-5 (NKJV)

As our society continues to slide into its moral and spiritual abyss, we believers tend to follow suit by adjusting our view of God downward. We do it to keep the fact that there is a huge difference between our duplicity and God's holiness. We do it so that the gap is not too obvious. After all, it's tough to keep one foot in each camp if the distinction between the two is too great. In truth, the gap between man's perception of God and the reality of the true God is shamefully greater than most of us can ever imagine. Isaiah the Prophet, for example, when visited by the Holy One declared… ⁵So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts." Isaiah 6:1-5 (NKJV)

One way we adjust our view of God downward is through rationalization. We rationalize the junk we regularly drink into our system through "entertainment". God's standard however is that… ³I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. Psalm 101:3 (NKJV) and ⁸Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

Christ's calling upon our lives however is that… ²³Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ²⁴For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. Luke 9:23-24 (NKJV)

¹⁴Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (NLT)

Creating God in our image by rationalizing our flesh-driven behavior? The Word of God does not allow us that option.

Rev Todd

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Happy 4th of July, America!!!!

nobody@vox.com(Connie) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:42:45 -0700

Our 232nd Independence Day!

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