Saints on the Loose!

κηρυσσων την βασιλειαν του θεου και διδασκων τα περι του κυριου ιησου χριστου μετα πασης παρρησιας ακωλυτως. The underlying meaning of this blog is this: the essential unity of Christians worldwide regardless of race, nationality, or religious denomination. There are real disagreements among us but there is a small remnant in every authentically Christian gathering. The Holy Spirit is leading His remnant into deeper understandings of the "meat" of the Gospel and not just the "milk."

Friday, September 30, 2011

Hello, Albania!

Përshëndetje, Shqipëri! Mirë se vini në grupin e lexuesve 90-5 vende të tjera që të vizitonikëtë blog. Unë shpresoj që ju të gjeni disa nga postimet e dobishme apo të rëndësishme.

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Nëntëdhjetë e gjashtë vende: Shqipëria, Argjentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahreini, Bjellorusia, Belgjika, Belize, Brazili, Bullgaria, Kanadaja, Kajman Ishujt, Kinë, Republika Çeke, Kolumbia, Kongo, Kosta Rika, Kroacia, Republika Çeke, Danimarka , Republika Dominikane, Ekuadori, Egjipti, El Salvador, Estonia, Etiopia, Finlanda, Franca, Gjeorgjia,Gjermania, Greqia, Hong Kong, Hungaria, India, Indonezia, Irani, Iraku, Irlanda, Izraeli, Italia,Bregu i Fildishtë, Japoni, Jordani , Kampuchea, Kuvajti, Laosi, Letonia, Lituania,Luksemburgu, Maqedonia, Malajzia, Malta, Meksika, Moldavia, Maroku, Mianmar, Holanda,Zelanda e Re, Nigeri, Norvegjia, Pakistani, Panama, Paraguai, Peru, Filipinet, Polonia,Rumania, Rusia, Arabia Saudite, Senegali, Senegali, Singapor, Sllovakia, Sllovenia, Afrika e Jugut, Korea e Jugut, Spanja, Sri Lanka, Sudani, Suedia, Zvicra, Tajvani, Tanzani,Tajlandë, Trinidad dhe Tobago, Turqia, Uganda, Ukraina, Emiratet e Bashkuara ArabeEmiratet, Mbretëria e Bashkuar, Shtetet e Bashkuara, Venezuela, Vietnami, Jemeni,Zimbabve.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Dependence on God

"God will often give you more than you can handle so you can learn to depend on him rather than on yourself." Craig Groeschel in Weird.

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Everybody Ought To Know (Who Jesus is)

This choir has been together for over ten years and just gets better and better. They are the University of Alabama at Birmingham Gospel Choir with Bishop Kevin P. Turner as Director & Composer. Bishop Turner is the lead singer on this song, "Everybody Ought to Know (Who Jesus Is) ." Their latest CD is available at iTunes, Amazon.com, & cdbaby.com.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Oh, My Goodness! Bibleman!

I know this was made by well-meaning people, but …….???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????

Bibleman is a series of video television episodes aimed at a 3-9 year old audience and featuring an evangelical superhero, Bibleman (portrayed by actor Willie Aames) and his sidekick, Biblegirl. Wearing the Armor of God, Bibleman battles evil using the Word of God. The villains he fights carry names like Dr. Fear, Shadow of Doubt, Ludicrous, Taco Smell, The Smiler, Timid Tessie, The Fibbler, The Cheater, The Legions of Laziness, GameMaster Bully, and Prince of Pride.

This video series is mocked by non-believers as ludicrous. I must say that I am afraid they are correct. The Bible quotation use seems contrived, the jokes fall flat and would be unintelligible to their stated target audience (3-9 year old children), and the ridiculously low production values make the secular The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers seem like high art.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Bible Printer's Errors: The Vinegar Bible

John Baskett (d. 1742) was the printer for King George III of England and fot the University of Oxford from 1711 - 1742 and produced ornate leather-bound and gold-trimmed editions. He is best remembered, however, for one of his magnificent failures, what is known as the Vinegar Bible (1717).

The Vinegar Bible is full of typographical errors but the most glaring problem occurs in the page heading for the twentieth chapter of the book of Luke at the passage containing The Parable of the Vineyard (Luke 20:9), which instead is printed as The Parable of the Vinegar.

In a wordplay on the printer's name, the book was derisively labelled a "Baskett-ful of errors."

http://www.stenodoc.org.uk/st_minver/index.org
St. Minver Church, named for St. Menefreda, at St. Minver in Cornwall, has three copies of the Vinegar Bible. The church is on the site of a wooden church from late Saxon times.

http://rosemary-e-bachelor.suite101.com/rare-bible-returns-to-canada-236-years-later-a85802

http://on-sebs-steps.blogspot.com/2011/01/vinegar-bible.html

http://www.thebookbinder.co.uk/conservation/basketts-imperial-bible/

Sunday, September 25, 2011

The Earliest Biblical Film

Albert Kirchner patented a motion picture camera, but he is historically significant because of his very odd body of film work as a director. He directed the first known films in two widely disparate genres. His personal views are unknown.

In 1896, using the pseudonym of Lear, he directed a film, La coucher de la Marie, which was a recording of Louise Willy's striptease stage show in Cairo, Egypt. This is believed to be the first pornographic film and was prosecuted as such in 1901 in Europe.

After making a series of comedy short films, Kirchner then (1897) shot La passion du Christ, considered to be the first biblical film. It is a recording of a stage play performed in Paris.

Kirchner died in 1898 or soon after.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

The Wealth of King Solomon

“Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;” 2 Chronicles 9:13

“Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold.” 1 Kings 10:14

1 talent was the mass of water needed to fill an amphora, a standard sized two-handled vase with a long neck designed for pouring. The Greek name for the vase, amphora, came from αμφι (“on both sides”) and φορεύς (“carrier”). Talanton is a Greek word meaning “scale” or “balance.”

1 talent (a measure of weight) = 3000 shekels = 60 minas = 34.3 kg = 75 US pounds. On 20 September 2011, the price of gold was $1798.60 per ounce. There are 16 ounces in a US pound, so one pound would be valued at $28,777.60. 75 pounds would be valued at $2,158,320.00. 666 talents, at today’s price for gold, would be approximately $142,449,120.00. Remember, this was just his gold. Solomon also received silver, jewels, animals, slaves, and wives.

Solomon’s wealth came from commerce, mining, and tribute (1 Kings 4:21) and from gifts brought by visiting dignitaries (1 Kings 10:25} The Bible describes Solomon as being tremendously wealthy. Obviously, he was.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Amazing Grace in Inuit

The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada (Northwest Territories, Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, Nunavut, Nunatukavut), Denmark (Greenland), Russia (Siberia) and the United States (Alaska). Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language. Inuit people prefer not to be called "Eskimoes."

The Inuit live throughout most of the Canadian Arctic and subarctic: in the territory of Nunavut ("our land"); the northern third of Quebec, in an area called Nunavik ("place to live"); the coastal region of Labrador, in areas called Nunatsiavut ("our beautiful land") and Nunatukavut ("Our Ancient Land"); in various parts of the Northwest Territories, mainly on the coast of the Arctic Ocean and formerly in the Yukon. Collectively these areas are known as Inuit Nunangat.

In the US, Alaskan Inupiat live on the North Slope of Alaska and Siberian Coast, Little Diomede Island and Big Diomede Island. Greenland's Kalaallit are citizens of Denmark. There are about 150,000 Inuit today.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Superbook

"Superbook , also known as Animated Parent and Child Theatre (アニメ親子劇場 Anime Oyako Gekijō?), is an anime television series produced by Tatsunoko Productions in Japan in conjunction with the Christian Broadcasting Network in the United States." (Opening sentence of the Wikipedia article about Superbook.) It uses a children's science-fiction/time travel story to present stories from the Bible. The first 26 episodes aired 1981-1982, and the second 26 in 1983. A new computer generated image version of the series is being produced by the Christian Broadcasting Network.

Reruns of the original series currently are being aired in the United States, Chile, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines. An episode of the original series, "The Patience of Job," is here.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Christians

‎At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian. Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions. Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list. This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Pudens: A Christian man in Rome who is mentioned by Paul in 2 Timothy 4:21 as sending greetings to Timothy.

Godfrey of Bouillon: (b. ca. 1060, Frankish Kingdom – d. 1100) Lord of Bouillon and Duke of Lower Lorraine. Frankish knight and a leader during the First Crusade in 1096. He was the first ruler of the newly established Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Clara Maas: (b. 1876, New Jersey, USA – d. 1901) A nurse who died after volunteering for yellow fever research. She is considered to be a saint by the Lutheran Church.

Michael Graham Landon: (b. 1964, California, USA, aka: Michael Landon, Jr.) Actor, director, writer, and producer. Son of television and film actor Michael Landon.

Olof Daniel Westling: (b. 1973, Sweden, aka: Prince Daniel, Duke of Vastergotland) Gymnasium owner, personal trainer of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden. In 2010, he married Victoria. Lutheran.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Do You Know These People?

Do you know these people? Their beliefs included:
1. Strict monotheism.
2. "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your friend."
3. People have free will, but God has foreknowledge of human destiny.
4. Bodily resurrection of the dead.
5. Religion should affect and inform daily life.
6. All believers can function as priests, not just a special class.
7. Religious leaders are not determined by birth, but by their scholarly achievement and their personal piety.
8. Brotherhood of mankind.
9. A commitment to social justice.
10. Ultimately, all of mankind can be redeemed.
11. Worship may be at local congregations rather than restricted to a centralized Temple.
12. Strict adherence to the teachings of scripture.
13. The scriptures should be studied and debated.

The beliefs sound familiar because they are all part of the Christian philosophy, but they come from the Jewish sect known as the Pharisees. The Hebrew word from which the name derives is "paras," פרש
meaning "set apart." The Pharisees were similar to a political party and a populist social movement. Their popularity with the common people explains how they survived during the upheavals of history even as the other sects (Sadducees, Essenes, and Sicari/Zealots) disappeared.

The Pharisees were the precursors of modern Rabbinic Judaism.
.............................................................
It is interesting that "Pharisee" means "set apart," because that is also the meaning of the biblical use of the word "saint." άγιος, usually transliterated in English as "hagios," means "set apart."

Monday, September 19, 2011

Messianic Prophecies from the Bible: He Would Bring Light to The Lands of Zebulon and Naphtali

Some of the Old Testament Messianic prophecies fulfilled by Jesus have been found after years of study by scholars. This one was easier to find; so that we would not miss it, Matthew said, "Here is one of them ."

“Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.“ Matthew 4:12-17

“Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” Isaiah 9:1-2

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Bethsaida: The Loaves and Fishes

בית צידה

Bethsaida (Hebrew: "house of fishing") is now the small tourism village of Tabgha, Israel. It is located on the Sea of Galilee 2 km from Capernaum, where Jesus lived after he left Nazareth as an adult (Matthew 4:13, Mark 2:1). The village is probably the place where Jesus fed several thousand people using only the bread and fish from one person's lunch basket.

Links:
http://www.bibleplaces.com/tabgha.htm
http://www.seetheholyland.net/tabgha/

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Paul Defuses a Dangerous Situation

In a follow-up to yesterday's post, here is how Paul defused the highly dangerous (for him) situation which was developing within the Sanhedrin. The members of the council were becoming increasingly agitated at him, so he changed the subject, applying the tactic of "misdirection." He reminded them of one of their recurring arguments. In effect, he "pushed their buttons," and set them off.

"Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”

Those who were standing near Paul said, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”

Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)

There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” (Acts 23:1-11)."

Friday, September 16, 2011

I Didn't Recognize the High Priest

"And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people." (Acts 23:1-5) (Note: Here Paul paraphrases from Exodus 22:28)

"I didn't recognize him." Of course Paul knew that Ananias was the High Priest! In the next passage, Paul declares to the group that he is a Pharisee and a Pharisee would know the High Priest. Paul was using the words in the same way we might today. He was being sarcastic, telling Ananias that he did not recognize Ananias' authority. He also was asking Ananias how he dared to judge Paul (Acts 23:3). Paul knew exactly who he was, God's apostle, and he was not shy about exerting his own authority.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian. Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions. Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list. This is a recurring segment in this blog.

James King Aursness/Aurness: (b. 1923, Minnesota, USA – d. 2011; aka: James Arness) Television and film actor. Brother of actor Peter Graves. Methodist.

Peter Aursness/Aurness: (b. 1928, Minnesota, USA – d. 2010; aka: Peter Graves) Television and film actor. Brother of actor James Arness. Methodist.

Mike Shula (b. 1965, Maryland, USA) College and professional football player and coach. Son of legendary national Football League coach Don Shula. Roman Catholic.

Philip Carteret Hill Primrose: (b. 1864, Canada – d. 1937) Police officer, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. Presbyterian.

Norma Larsen Zimmer: (b. 1923, Idaho, USA – d. 2011) Vocalist. She was Lawrence Welk’s “Champagne Lady” for 22 years. Born as Norma Larsen, she married Randy Zimmer in 1944.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Christian Illustrators: Tim Baron

This is a new recurrent feature on this blog. I will provide links to the websites of Christian illustrators. Today: Tim Baron .

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Christian Sport Bike Racing

Christian Sport Bike Racing is a ministry devoted to maintaining a Christian presence in the sport of motorcycle sport racing. The members of the group make their presence known at the track by wearing
logo clothing and placing banners in prominent view. By making themselves known, they present the opportunity for those who are interested to ask questions or seek counseling.

The group provides chapel services, free Bibles, tracts, biblical literature, and Christian videos to anyone who asks. They take the message into the sport that Christian laymen have a ministry wherever they are, as ambassadors for Christ.

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Controversial New Mel Gibson Film

Actor-director-film producer Mel Gibson (born 1956 in New York as Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson) has become quite controversial in the last few years. He recently added to the controversy when he announced his plans to produce, and possibly star in, a film based on the life of Judas Maccabeus.

Judah the Hammer)

יהודה המכבי

Judas (aka: Judah Maccabee, Y'hudhah HamMakabi, Judah the Hammer) was born in Modiin, Judea (now Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, 35 km (22 miles) southeast of Tel Aviv and 30 km (19 miles) west of Jerusalem). He was a son of Mattathias, a Jewish priest who defied an edict by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes who had declared Jewish worship to be illegal. Mattathius started a revolt and then died in 166 BC/BCE. His son Judah assumed leadership of the revolt and became legendary for his military prowess. His nickname, "the Hammer," probably refers to his use of rapid hammer-strike guerilla tactics in battle. The Jewish feast of Hanukkah ("dedication") commemorate the day in 165 BC/BCE when Judah removed Antiochus' pagan statues from the temple in Jerusalem and restored Jewish worship.

The Jewish Anti-Defamation League has said, "As a hero of the Jewish people and a universal hero in the struggle for religious liberty, Judah Maccabee deserves better."

Why would the ADL be so upset? Because Mel Gibson has been accused of adultery, alcoholism, racism, and anti-Semitism. During his 2006 arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol he yelled racist and anti-Semitic remarks, loudly and repeatedly.

Gibson is a traditionalist Roman Catholic and is described as politically ultraconservative. In my opinion, he is a man who truly believes in Roman Catholicism but who has failed to make his life match his beliefs.

Drug Use in the United States

The United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on Thursday (8 September 2011) released the results from an anonymous drug-use survey it conducted among 67,5000 randomly chosen people. 8.9% of college-age respondents to the survey reported that they regularly use illegal drugs recreationally. The drugs include marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, LSD, inhalants, and narcotic prescription drugs taken illegally. Binge alcohol consumption (five or more drinks on the same day), while legal, was still a problem, reported by 40.6%.

It should be emphatically pointed out to those who use any of the illegal substances that they are ethically complicit in all the crimes committed to get their drugs into their possession: smuggling, beatings, theft, extortion, bribery, murder. And those who binge drink need to be constantly reminded of the horrible results of binge drinking: cirrhosis, fetal injury or death, domestic violence, broken family relationships, body-mangling automobile accidents and other emotional, financial, physical, and spiritual carnage.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

What They Think of Us: Mikhail Bakunin

“If God really existed, it would be necessary to abolish him. … the idea of God implies the abdication of human reason and justice.” Mikhail Aleksandrovich Bakunin (b. 1847, Russia – d. 1876), Russian revolutionary and theorist of collectivist anarchism.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Song Version of Pastor Joe Nelm's NASCAR Prayer

Someone has made a country music auto-tuned version of Pastor Joe Nelm''s NASCAR prayer . I personally think that Pastor Nelm's prayer is not sacrilegious and was intended in the "in all things" sense mentioned in scripture. I find the video to be humorous. You may not. The song was created by a commercial group trying to sell their "songify" service, so their intentions, and opinion of the video, may not be as pure as Pastor Nelms'.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Hello, Ireland!

Dia duit, Éire! Fáilte go dtí an grúpa de léitheoirí 90-3 tíortha eile a thugann cuairt freisin aran bhlag seo. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh tú teacht ar roinnt de na poist úsáideach nó brí.
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Nócha is ceithre Tíortha: Airgintín, Aruba, An Astráil, An Ostair, Bairéin, an Bhealarúis, An Bheilg, An Bheilís, an Bhrasaíl, an Bhulgáir, Ceanada, Oileáin Cayman, an tSín, Poblacht na Seice, an Cholóim, an Chongó, Costa Rica, an Chróit, Poblacht na Seice, An Danmhairg, Dhoiminiceach Poblacht, Eacuadór, an Éigipt, El Salvador, an Eastóin, anAetóip, an Fhionlainn, an Fhrainc, an tSeoirsia, an Ghearmáin, an Ghréig, Hong Cong, an Ungáir, an India, an Indinéis, an Iaráin, an Iaráic, Éire, Iosrael, an Iodáil, an Cósta Eabhair, an tSeapáin, an Iordáin, Kampuchea , Cuáit, Laos, an Laitvia, an Liotuáin, Lucsamburg,Macadóinis, an Mhalaeisia, Málta, Meicsiceo, Moldavia, Maracó, Maenmar, An Ísiltír, An Nua-Shéalainn, an Nigéir, an Iorua, an Phacastáin, Panama, Paragua, Peiriú, Na hOileáin Fhilipíneacha, an Pholainn, an Rómáin, an Rúis, Araib Shádach,, tSeineagáil tSeineagáil,Singeapór, An tSlóvaic, An tSlóivéin, An Afraic Theas, An Chóiré Theas, An Spáinn, i Srí Lanca, an tSúdáin, an tSualainn, an Eilvéis, Taiwan, an Tansáin, an Téalainn, Oileán na Tríonóide agus Tobága, an Tuirc, Uganda, an Úcráin, Aontas na nÉimíríochtaí Arabacha,An Ríocht Aontaithe, Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá, Veiniséala, Vítneam, Éimin, an tSiombáib

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