#bible and tu but especially bible <3

[000life-is-meaningless000]

God is Love ! ! !

😡

Intill He's, NOT ! ! ! ! !

. . .

The act of murder is rampant in the Bible.  In much of the Bible, especially the Old Testament, there are laws that command that people be killed for absurd reasons such as working on the Sabbath, being gay, cursing your parents, or not being a virgin on your wedding night.  In addition to these crazy and immoral laws, there are plenty of examples of God’s irrationality by his direct killing of many people for reasons that defy any rational explanation such as killing children who make fun of bald people, and the killing of a man who tried to keep the ark of God from falling during transport.  There are also countless examples of mass murders commanded by God, including the murder of women, infants, and children.

The following passages are a very small percentage of the total passages approving of murder in the Bible.  They are divided here into three parts: 1) Capital Punishment Crimes, 2) God’s Murders for Stupid Reasons, 3) Murdering Children, and 4) Miscellaneous Murders.  This list is long, but it barely scratches the surface of all the murders approved of in the Bible.

1) Capital Punishment Crimes:

Kill People Who Don’t Listen to Priests

Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death.  Such evil must be purged from Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:12 NLT)

Kill Witches

You should not let a sorceress live. (Exodus 22:17 NAB)

Kill Homosexuals

“If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives.” (Leviticus 20:13 NAB)

Kill Fortunetellers

A man or a woman who acts as a medium or fortuneteller shall be put to death by stoning; they have no one but themselves to blame for their death. (Leviticus 20:27 NAB)

Death for Hitting Dad

Whoever strikes his father or mother shall be put to death. (Exodus 21:15 NAB)

Death for Cursing Parents

1) If one curses his father or mother, his lamp will go out at the coming of darkness. (Proverbs 20:20 NAB)

2) All who curse their father or mother must be put to death.  They are guilty of a capital offense. (Leviticus 20:9 NLT)

Death for Adultery

If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10 NLT)

Death for Fornication

A priest’s daughter who loses her honor by committing fornication and thereby dishonors her father also, shall be burned to death. (Leviticus 21:9 NAB)

Death to Followers of Other Religions

Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed. (Exodus 22:19 NAB)

Kill Nonbelievers

They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. (2 Chronicles 15:12-13 NAB)

Kill False Prophets

If a man still prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall say to him, “You shall not live, because you have spoken a lie in the name of the Lord.”  When he prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall thrust him through. (Zechariah 13:3 NAB)

Kill the Entire Town if One Person Worships Another God

Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods.  In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully.  If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock.  Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it.  Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the LORD your God.  That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt.  Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction.  Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you.  He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors.  “The LORD your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him.” (Deuteronomy 13:13-19 NLT)

Kill Women Who Are Not Virgins On Their Wedding Night

But if this charge is true (that she wasn’t a virgin on her wedding night), and evidence of the girls virginity is not found, they shall bring the girl to the entrance of her fathers house and there her townsman shall stone her to death, because she committed a crime against Israel by her unchasteness in her father’s house.  Thus shall you purge the evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy  22:20-21 NAB)

Kill Followers of Other Religions.

1) If your own full brother, or your son or daughter, or your beloved wife, or you intimate friend, entices you secretly to serve other gods, whom you and your fathers have not known, gods of any other nations, near at hand or far away, from one end of the earth to the other: do not yield to him or listen to him, nor look with pity upon him, to spare or shield him, but kill him.  Your hand shall be the first raised to slay him; the rest of the people shall join in with you.  You shall stone him to death, because he sought to lead you astray from the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.  And all Israel, hearing of this, shall fear and never do such evil as this in your midst. (Deuteronomy 13:7-12 NAB)

2) Suppose a man or woman among you, in one of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, has done evil in the sight of the LORD your God and has violated the covenant by serving other gods or by worshiping the sun, the moon, or any of the forces of heaven, which I have strictly forbidden.  When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, then that man or woman must be taken to the gates of the town and stoned to death. (Deuteronomy 17:2-5 NLT)

Death for Blasphemy

One day a man who had an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father got into a fight with one of the Israelite men.  During the fight, this son of an Israelite woman blasphemed the LORD’s name.  So the man was brought to Moses for judgment.  His mother’s name was Shelomith. She was the daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan.  They put the man in custody until the LORD’s will in the matter should become clear.  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and tell all those who heard him to lay their hands on his head.  Then let the entire community stone him to death.  Say to the people of Israel: Those who blaspheme God will suffer the consequences of their guilt and be punished.  Anyone who blasphemes the LORD’s name must be stoned to death by the whole community of Israel.  Any Israelite or foreigner among you who blasphemes the LORD’s name will surely die. (Leviticus 24:10-16 NLT)

Kill False Prophets

1) Suppose there are prophets among you, or those who have dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles,  and the predicted signs or miracles take place.  If the prophets then say, ‘Come, let us worship the gods of foreign nations,’ do not listen to them.  The LORD your God is testing you to see if you love him with all your heart and soul.  Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone.  Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.  The false prophets or dreamers who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of slavery in the land of Egypt.  Since they try to keep you from following the LORD your God, you must execute them to remove the evil from among you. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5 NLT)

2) But any prophet who claims to give a message from another god or who falsely claims to speak for me must die.’  You may wonder, ‘How will we know whether the prophecy is from the LORD or not?’  If the prophet predicts something in the LORD’s name and it does not happen, the LORD did not give the message.  That prophet has spoken on his own and need not be feared. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22 NLT)

Infidels and Gays Should Die

So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.  As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.  Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies.  So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever.  Amen.  That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires.  Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.  And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other.  Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved.  When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done.  Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.  They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful.  They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents.  They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving.  They are fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway.  And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. (Romans 1:24-32 NLT)

Kill Anyone who Approaches the Tabernacle

For the LORD had said to Moses, ‘Exempt the tribe of Levi from the census; do not include them when you count the rest of the Israelites.  You must put the Levites in charge of the Tabernacle of the Covenant, along with its furnishings and equipment.  They must carry the Tabernacle and its equipment as you travel, and they must care for it and camp around it.  Whenever the Tabernacle is moved, the Levites will take it down and set it up again.  Anyone else who goes too near the Tabernacle will be executed.’ (Numbers 1:48-51 NLT)

Kill People for Working on the Sabbath

The LORD then gave these further instructions to Moses: ‘Tell the people of Israel to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you forever.  It helps you to remember that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.  Yes, keep the Sabbath day, for it is holy.  Anyone who desecrates it must die; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community.  Work six days only, but the seventh day must be a day of total rest.  I repeat: Because the LORD considers it a holy day, anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death.’ (Exodus 31:12-15 NLT)

 

2) God’s Murders for Stupid Reasons:

Kill Brats

From there Elisha went up to Bethel.  While he was on his way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him.  “Go up baldhead,” they shouted, “go up baldhead!”  The prophet turned and saw them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord.  Then two shebears came out of the woods and tore forty two of the children to pieces. (2 Kings 2:23-24 NAB)

God Kills the Curious

And he smote of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Jehovah, he smote of the people seventy men, `and’ fifty thousand men; and the people mourned, because Jehovah had smitten the people with a great slaughter.  And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Jehovah, this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us? (1Samuel 6:19-20 ASV)

Killed by a Lion

Meanwhile, the LORD instructed one of the group of prophets to say to another man, “Strike me!”  But the man refused to strike the prophet.  Then the prophet told him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me.”  And sure enough, when he had gone, a lion attacked and killed him. (1 Kings 20:35-36 NLT)

Killing the Good Samaritan

The ark of God was placed on a new cart and taken away from the house of Abinadab on the hill.  Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab guided the cart, with Ahio walking before it, while David and all the Israelites made merry before the Lord with all their strength, with singing and with citharas, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.

When they came to the threshing floor of Nodan, Uzzah reached out his hand to the ark of God to steady it, for the oxen were making it tip.  But the Lord was angry with Uzzah; God struck him on that spot, and he died there before God. (2 Samuel 6:3-7 NAB)

 

3) Murdering Children

Kill Sons of Sinners

Make ready to slaughter his sons for the guilt of their fathers; Lest they rise and posses the earth, and fill the breadth of the world with tyrants. (Isaiah 14:21 NAB)

God Will Kill Children

The glory of Israel will fly away like a bird, for your children will die at birth or perish in the womb or never even be conceived.  Even if your children do survive to grow up, I will take them from you.  It will be a terrible day when I turn away and leave you alone.  I have watched Israel become as beautiful and pleasant as Tyre.  But now Israel will bring out her children to be slaughtered.”  O LORD, what should I request for your people?  I will ask for wombs that don’t give birth and breasts that give no milk.  The LORD says, “All their wickedness began at Gilgal; there I began to hate them.  I will drive them from my land because of their evil actions.  I will love them no more because all their leaders are rebels.  The people of Israel are stricken.  Their roots are dried up; they will bear no more fruit.  And if they give birth, I will slaughter their beloved children.” (Hosea 9:11-16 NLT)

Kill Men, Women, and Children

“Then I heard the LORD say to the other men, “Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked.  Show no mercy; have no pity!  Kill them all – old and young, girls and women and little children.  But do not touch anyone with the mark.  Begin your task right here at the Temple.”  So they began by killing the seventy leaders.  “Defile the Temple!” the LORD commanded.  “Fill its courtyards with the bodies of those you kill!  Go!”  So they went throughout the city and did as they were told.” (Ezekiel 9:5-7 NLT)

God Kills all the First Born of Egypt

And at midnight the LORD killed all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn son of the captive in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed.  Pharaoh and his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died. (Exodus 12:29-30 NLT)

Kill Old Men and Young Women

“You are my battle-ax and sword,” says the LORD.  “With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms.  With you I will shatter armies, destroying the horse and rider, the chariot and charioteer.  With you I will shatter men and women, old people and children, young men and maidens.  With you I will shatter shepherds and flocks, farmers and oxen, captains and rulers.  “As you watch, I will repay Babylon and the people of Babylonia for all the wrong they have done to my people in Jerusalem,” says the LORD.  “Look, O mighty mountain, destroyer of the earth!  I am your enemy,” says the LORD.  “I will raise my fist against you, to roll you down from the heights.  When I am finished, you will be nothing but a heap of rubble.  You will be desolate forever.  Even your stones will never again be used for building.  You will be completely wiped out,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 51:20-26)

(Note that after God promises the Israelites a victory against Babylon, the Israelites actually get their butts kicked by them in the next chapter.  So much for an all-knowing and all-powerful God.)

God Will Kill the Children of Sinners

If even then you remain hostile toward me and refuse to obey, I will inflict you with seven more disasters for your sins.  I will release wild animals that will kill your children and destroy your cattle, so your numbers will dwindle and your roads will be deserted. (Leviticus 26:21-22 NLT)

More Rape and Baby Killing

Anyone who is captured will be run through with a sword.  Their little children will be dashed to death right before their eyes.  Their homes will be sacked and their wives raped by the attacking hordes.  For I will stir up the Medes against Babylon, and no amount of silver or gold will buy them off.  The attacking armies will shoot down the young people with arrows.  They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for the children. (Isaiah 13:15-18 NLT)

 

4) Miscellaneous Murders

More of Samson’s Murders

(The Lord saves Sampson from standing trial for 30 murders and arson by allowing him to kill 1000 more men.)  When he reached Lehi, and the Philistines came shouting to meet him, the spirit of the Lord came upon him: the ropes around his arms become as flax that is consumed by fire and the bonds melted away from his hands.  Near him was the fresh jawbone of an ass; he reached out, grasped it, and with it killed a thousand men. (Judges 15:14-15 NAB)

Peter Kills Two People

There was also a man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property.  He brought part of the money to the apostles, but he claimed it was the full amount.  His wife had agreed to this deception.  Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart?  You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.  The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished.  And after selling it, the money was yours to give away.  How could you do a thing like this?  You weren’t lying to us but to God.”  As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died.  Everyone who heard about it was terrified.  Then some young men wrapped him in a sheet and took him out and buried him.  About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.  Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”  “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”  And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of doing a thing like this – conspiring together to test the Spirit of the Lord?  Just outside that door are the young men who buried your husband, and they will carry you out, too.”  Instantly, she fell to the floor and died.  When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.  Great fear gripped the entire church and all others who heard what had happened. (Acts 5:1-11 NLT)

Mass Murder

This is what the Lord of  hosts has to say: ‘I will punish what Amalek did to Israel when he barred his way as he was coming up from Egypt.  Go, now, attack Amalek, and deal with him and all that he has under the ban.  Do not spare him, but kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and asses.’ (1 Samuel 15:2-3 NAB)

You Have to Kill

Cursed be he who does the Lords work remissly, cursed he who holds back his sword from blood. (Jeremiah 48:10 NAB)

The Danites Kill the Next Town

But the territory of the Danites was too small for them; so the Danites marched up and attacked Leshem, which they captured and put to the sword.  Once they had taken possession of Lesham, they renamed the settlement after their ancestor Dan. (Joshua 19:47 NAB)

God Kills Some More

Then the LORD said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me pleading for these people, I wouldn’t help them.  Away with them!  Get them out of my sight!  And if they say to you, ‘But where can we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says: Those who are destined for death, to death; those who are destined for war, to war; those who are destined for famine, to famine; those who are destined for captivity, to captivity.’  “I will send four kinds of destroyers against them,” says the LORD.  “I will send the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, the vultures to devour, and the wild animals to finish up what is left.  Because of the wicked things Manasseh son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem, I will make my people an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.” (Jeremiah 15:1-4 NLT)

God Promises More Killing

I will make Mount Seir utterly desolate, killing off all who try to escape and any who return.  I will fill your mountains with the dead. Your hills, your valleys, and your streams will be filled with people slaughtered by the sword.  I will make you desolate forever. Your cities will never be rebuilt. Then you will know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 35:7-9 NLT)

The Angel of Death

My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites; and I will wipe them out. (Exodus 23:23 NAB)

Destruction of Ai

Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged.  Take the entire army and attack Ai, for I have given to you the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.  You will destroy them as you destroyed Jericho and its king. But this time you may keep the captured goods and the cattle for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.”  So Joshua and the army of Israel set out to attack Ai.  Joshua chose thirty thousand fighting men and sent them out at night with these orders: “Hide in ambush close behind the city and be ready for action.  When our main army attacks, the men of Ai will come out to fight as they did before, and we will run away from them.  We will let them chase us until they have all left the city. For they will say, ‘The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.’  Then you will jump up from your ambush and take possession of the city, for the LORD your God will give it to you.  Set the city on fire, as the LORD has commanded.  You have your orders.”  So they left that night and lay in ambush between Bethel and the west side of Ai.  But Joshua remained among the people in the camp that night.

Early the next morning Joshua roused his men and started toward Ai, accompanied by the leaders of Israel.  They camped on the north side of Ai, with a valley between them and the city.  That night Joshua sent five thousand men to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.  So they stationed the main army north of the city and the ambush west of the city.  Joshua himself spent that night in the valley.  When the king of Ai saw the Israelites across the valley, he and all his army hurriedly went out early the next morning and attacked the Israelites at a place overlooking the Jordan Valley.  But he didn’t realize there was an ambush behind the city.  Joshua and the Israelite army fled toward the wilderness as though they were badly beaten,  and all the men in the city were called out to chase after them.  In this way, they were lured away from the city.  There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not chase after the Israelites, and the city was left wide open.

Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Point your spear toward Ai, for I will give you the city.”  Joshua did as he was commanded.  As soon as Joshua gave the signal, the men in ambush jumped up and poured into the city.  They quickly captured it and set it on fire.  When the men of Ai looked behind them, smoke from the city was filling the sky, and they had nowhere to go. For the Israelites who had fled in the direction of the wilderness now turned on their pursuers.  When Joshua and the other Israelites saw that the ambush had succeeded and that smoke was rising from the city, they turned and attacked the men of Ai.  Then the Israelites who were inside the city came out and started killing the enemy from the rear. So the men of Ai were caught in a trap, and all of them died. Not a single person survived or escaped.  Only the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.

When the Israelite army finished killing all the men outside the city, they went back and finished off everyone inside.  So the entire population of Ai was wiped out that day – twelve thousand in all.  For Joshua kept holding out his spear until everyone who had lived in Ai was completely destroyed.  Only the cattle and the treasures of the city were not destroyed, for the Israelites kept these for themselves, as the LORD had commanded Joshua.  So Ai became a permanent mound of ruins, desolate to this very day.  Joshua hung the king of Ai on a tree and left him there until evening. At sunset the Israelites took down the body and threw it in front of the city gate.  They piled a great heap of stones over him that can still be seen today. (Joshua 8:1-29 NLT)

Killing at Jericho

When the people heard the sound of the horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the city from every side and captured it.  They completely destroyed everything in it – men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, donkeys – everything. (Joshua 6:20-21 NLT)

God Kills an Extended Family

“You have done more evil than all who lived before you.  You have made other gods and have made me furious with your gold calves.  And since you have turned your back on me, I will bring disaster on your dynasty and kill all your sons, slave or free alike.  I will burn up your royal dynasty as one burns up trash until it is all gone.  I, the LORD, vow that the members of your family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures.'��  Then Ahijah said to Jeroboam’s wife, “Go on home, and when you enter the city, the child will die.  All Israel will mourn for him and bury him.  He is the only member of your family who will have a proper burial, for this child is the only good thing that the LORD, the God of Israel, sees in the entire family of Jeroboam.  And the LORD will raise up a king over Israel who will destroy the family of Jeroboam.  This will happen today, even now!  Then the LORD will shake Israel like a reed whipped about in a stream.  He will uproot the people of Israel from this good land that he gave their ancestors and will scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, for they have angered the LORD by worshiping Asherah poles.  He will abandon Israel because Jeroboam sinned and made all of Israel sin along with him.” (1 Kings 14:9-16 NLT)

Mass Murder

The men of Israel withdrew through the territory of the Benjaminites, putting to the sword the inhabitants of the city, the livestock, and all they chanced upon.  Moreover they destroyed by fire all the cities they came upon. (Judges 20:48 NAB)

The Angel of Death

That night the angel of the Lord went forth and struck down one hundred and eighty five thousand men in the Assyrian camp.  Early the next morning, there they were, all the corpuses of the dead. (2 Kings 19:35 NAB)

Kill Your Neighbors

(Moses) stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, “All of you who are on the LORD’s side, come over here and join me.” And all the Levites came.  He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Strap on your swords! Go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other, killing even your brothers, friends, and neighbors.”  The Levites obeyed Moses, and about three thousand people died that day.  Then Moses told the Levites, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Because of this, he will now give you a great blessing.” (Exodus 32:26-29 NLT)

Kill the Family of Sinners

And Joshua said to Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession to him; and tell me now what thou hast done, hide it not from me.  And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done.  When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them, and behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.”  [Note that the sin is not looting, but failing to give the loot to the treasury of the Lord.]  “So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.  And they took them from the midst of the tent, and brought them to Joshua, and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.  And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them to the valley of Achor.  And Joshua said, why hast thou troubled us?  the LORD shall trouble thee this day.  And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.  And they raised over him a great heap of stones to this day.  So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger: wherefore the name of that place was called the valley of Achor to this day. (Joshua 7:19-26 Webster’s Bible)

Kill Followers of Other Religions

While the Israelites were camped at Acacia, some of the men defiled themselves by sleeping with the local Moabite women.  These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, and soon the Israelites were feasting with them and worshiping the gods of Moab.  Before long Israel was joining in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the LORD’s anger to blaze against his people.  The LORD issued the following command to Moses: “Seize all the ringlead

[marshmallord]

Mint Magazine Voting Guide

Bible is already falling behind in votes, so here’s a quick step-by-step voting guide for mobile! It’s really easy, dw.

First, go to mintmagth.com, and click on the menu. Second, scroll down a bit to register/login (an account is required to vote). After that, return to the menu and click “Awards”.

Then, click “Rookie Of The Year”. Just press Bible’s name and complete the captcha, and you’ve voted!

Reminding you that voting is free, and each account can vote ONCE DAILY. This means you can vote every day, once a day (or more than that, if you want to make extra accounts). It’s super easy and every vote counts, so please take a few minutes to vote!

[thephotographikdaillies]

🌄 Morning coffee ☕ no name #instant coffee from Marché Maxi Chilling in my hood living my happy life exited, thankful, greatful, looking forward to the future🌿 the next minute, hour, month, decade, the after life...

It's not about how big or small the home is but how happy the house is

You can possess or have access to all the materlistic and mondaine things know to mankind if your bitter, angry, unhappy deep inside, you will try to contaminate others with your negative energy as if they are or should feel responsible for your sorrow that you need to own up to and more than capable of changing #yourfaith

So many people pretend read and abide by the words of the Bible and if you ever use one curse word in front of them your already micro judged and fit for purgatory....

When they themselves cuss and use the most foul languages one could ever think of by the way they look at you and others, the way they treat other people everyday, the "pagans" according to them!

They could be your coworker, your preacher pretending man of god wannabe xhristian* *boss/restaurant owner, police officer, judge, leader neighbor and so on! They disregard their own golden rule that read everyday from the Bible!

*That decides since its Covid 19 and Jobs are rare i will change the rule everyday everyone will get paid 8 hours from 3-11 no matter how long it takes for you to clean!

Eventhough it's 10 minutes past 11 and tickets are still coming after a 200+ guests busyyyyyyy Thursday night! Not even on the weekend.

Eventhough you will most likely finish at 12 or 12:15 at night after you clean,

Eventhough a steak at my restaurant will cost you 80 dollars ... the average pasta dish is around 28 dollars or more

Eventhough my restaurant is not struggling and is busy everyday of the week! You and everyone in the restaurant will work for free past 11!

Matter fact nobody needs to sign in when you enter or leave the restaurant anymore! Me and management will take care of that!

And when you walk inside my restaurant you especially you!I will yell and scream at you for no reason for the slightest unnecessary things so I can instill the fear and wrath of god into you!*

* which never happened! All I had to do after several of your attempts was to give you a good 10 sec minimum stare to tell you I don't roll like and you quickly understood and changed your approach the very next time forward!

@maxcaprio man of god!

owner of one of the most prestigious Italian Restaurants in town

@ristorantebeatrice

The food is amazing, pricey and well worth it!

The sermont on the mount, Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets

"Le sermont sur la montagne, Mathieu 7:12 Ne fais pas a autrui ce que tu ne voudrais pas qu'on te fasse à toi même!"

Nobody's perfect yes! But some people when it come down to jealously bigotry, injustice they surpass perfection. And there are more than enough people looking up to them, that follow there footsteps trying to be next, that patterns themselves after them, that wants to surpass that perfection that godly figure! More than enough people contaminated and confortable with their ways of thinking, their state of mind...

A power hungry jealous and insecure individual with power is dangerous and LETHAL!!!! Perfect recipe for DISASTER, CHAOS!!!!

If you had spent less than a "quarter" of the time you spent hating on others comparing yourself to others, micro judging others and invested that precious time focusing, meditating recognizing your own flaw you could become a happier more agreeable person. You could change, evolve, become!

One step towards the right direction is and will always be better than a dive into the wrong one!

#foodforthought

Montreal July 12 2020 7:33 am

#brainstormingbook✒📓

[jamesdazell]

Un Monstre Sacré

Un Monstre Sacré

ART AND REPRESENTATION

(2019)

Enamorado de ti, de tu vida y de lo que quieres.

- Frida Kahlo

1

   I’m tired of reconsiderig my story in the mind of the idealism of present fashionable criticism.

  Concentrate on what you have to say and the images which manifest themselves to you. Stories are more than their features, their meaning runs much deeper than its costume. Consider the representation and diveristy only if it tells your story better, makes your characters explore their themes better, adds to their own story. You can make whatever art you want to make. No matter if it goes against the idealisms of the day. Idealisms come and go, the whole of art history shows us, but no one has the right to shut down your own stories and interpretation of life that you need to express. We’re running close to a prescribed imagination, not a free one, where the manifesto is a total and political movement, not an arts movement. Full of ideals but not ideas. Right now its like the Puritanical movement, if not a bonfire of vanities, against those who transgress the ideals of the day. Make whatever art that has been revealed to you to make. Make art with whatever great inspiration you had to make it and do not apologise for how it is manifested.

  Your imagination is a cerebral reflex. Don’t apologise or criticise it for not representing the ideals of the movements of the day. I’m not bothered about representation in art as I think it goes against the whole job of art.

  Artists and writers are representations of the cultural history of their time (they're not the only that, but even that is informative about the time). Not everything about them is going to be golden, maybe everything will be bad taste and bad intelligence. But in any case, it is far far more important think with them as if in conversation and disucssion. Their purpose is to stimulate thought not to emboss on it on the minds who receive it.  To be honest it seems clear why the Bibles were so effective. Most people want to be told what to think and to have their own thoughts amplified back at them, they want to have something celebrate them, and to rise up in significance by celebration.

  No matter where or who the work comes from, I wouldn't favour anyone for their cultural representation but for the talent and ideas their work carries. Great work is recognisible immediately. It affects on a cross-cultural level. I'm always looking to become foreign to myself, both in culture and time. The act of de-culturising seem more to the task than to represent it. Foreignness might illuminate and ignite dormant aspects within me that my own culture may not. So it is better to be in conversation than to outright reject, because it mattered, and if it mattered enough to be remembered and preserved, and to be copied (often by hand) through the centuries or ever just the last hundred years, then it probably meant something on a deeper level that is beyond their cultural representations, into a deeper part of humanity, whether the good or bad side. So through them we can understand ourselves.

  The purpose of representative writers is more needed by institutions and publishers etc but in artist's work the aim ought to be to dissolve those differences and to find the human being in experiences and the stories we tell. Like Susan Sontag said in conversation with John Berger about story-telling, she doesnt need to be a Russian man in Russia, or even feel like one, to read Tolstoy. And any reading of it in that way would be a superficial reading. That's not what’s on offer in a work of that magnitude. Likewise to quesiton whether the lead in a story is a man or a woman. It doesn't matter in itself. It only matters to the dramatic nature of the story. There are so many possible ways to unravel a narrative, that the lead doesn't signify anything but a focus. The lead could be positive or negative traits, the purpose of a lead could be celebratory or negation. The point is the same as ever. To tell great stories.

   It annoys me when people say how sexist Japan is (and it always comes from the Anglosphere who have a terrible time of seeing themselves as they are). When Japan has such a great history of female lead characters (and female charaters in general) who are both heroic and admirable, that Japan should rather be an inspiration for telling female lead stories more than the west's tradition. What representative writing is doing (though is not saying) is suggesting that certain ideas and arts belong to different races, genders, sexualities. There are certainly particular experiences only certain people will be able to tell, but then you run in the problem that certain races, genders, sexualities, are supposed to tell stories in a certain stereotyped way because it represents them. Take class for instance; that a working class writer is supposed to write about working class life and in a stereotypical way. It makes no sense but to write with and read it with your own humanity. That is the point of reading and writing, to reengage with our humanity. Hemmingway innovated, but that style doesn't belong to his race and sexuality. At the end of the day, no matter how representative, all you're doing is telling a story and or making an artistic choice, and it needs to be coming from your deeper humanity, that dissovles boundaries and shows there isn't a difference between us. I don't believe there is necesarily homosexual art anymore than homosexual science. The purpose isn't to write autobiography. I would never begin to think of Lorca's poetry as a homosexual perspective. His poetry is universal, he transgressed those social, political, cultural representations. He dissolved as he defied them: as a human being. He humiliated them as he transgressed representation. He became everyone, on everyone's essential journey, a primordial everyone. That rather seems the ambition and the proper task. So, I can never see the seduction in representational writing.  Art’s very purpose is to liberate ourselves from the privilege of an authorial stance of representation. To dissolve differential representation back into a unity of a human being. To reveal, from the cultural political delusion, the communalness and universals of our being human.

2

   Characters exist to embody a theme to tell a story, they define their character by decisions and actions they make. Without that they would be autonomous, independant from the story, representing exactly what they are for the sake of being. We have a name for that: reality TV. Reality TV as the fulfillment of modern dramatic theory; the most naturalistic, identifiable, devised, post dramatic, audience participation, theatrical entertainment one can imagine, unfolding in real time along the lines of life without the logic of narratives.

   Turn on the TV and Reality TV is there either as the news, people eating, people dating, people’s jobs, people’s cultural aspirations, or people selling things on the market. A frieze of national life as an interactive game show. We even now demand that fictional characters are played by their representative real life identity. Reality TV is all people really want. Real life stories about real life people, played by real life people for real life people. There is no question who the ideal character is. Theres no point in having idealistic characters, because they have nothing to learn. They are in themsevles a fulfilment. What journey do they have to go through. What themes are they able to explore.  Reality is more conplex than there being good people whose attitudes we like and bad people whose attitudes we don't.

  Characters are representations of themes, they help explore themes. If the themes and meaning of the story is good, then the characters will be good. Then the representation will be justified. What matters is from how a deep an instinct, an interpretation, if for lack of a better word a soul the story sprung from.

3

Progressives in art: I always find progressives in arts, especially those who outright reject the past, to be a continuation of that same spirit, which they are sadly too ignorant to have perceived. It was rather that they have found a different expression, maybe a more honest expression of the same spirit. And the very idea that it was able to seem progressive was because the culture had changed underneath. That it was this time and not another. In in the final analysis of their progressiveness you see they were bondaged to the time their lived in that it hardly seems a progressive act at all but one that was merely an expressive of prevailing conscience of the time that had erupted in a few people. But there is no such thing as progess in the arts. Every activity in art is the art of a human or a group of humans. Their life is its own condition within a certain set of condiitons. They are representative only of the condition it was made. Their lifespan cannot be compared to the life of another in terms of progress. Neither has art a goal to measure progress upon. And if it did, are we further towards a goal now than in any earlier time? And any possible yes, then an earlier time must have had the same goal as the progressors in art to.... I give up. There is no progress in art. Everything is a representation merely of a human being, the community, or the age that it was made it, each with its own values and ideas that belong to being a human being, not the progress of human beings. For in fact nothing in humanity progresses, because the measurement of progress itself depends on parameters of leaning towards or away from our values, which can only be a subjective axiom.

  Anything "progressive" means an old aspiration conducted more openly and honestly; which appeals to all subterranean risings; perhaps a crisis which for a long time has been in conflict with a masterful way which, to the subterranean, now seems simply an old fashioned idealism. But it is only a re-expression. Even the masterful way was really their way but unfaithful to its condition. Whatever becomes progressive is merely a more honest approach, a step towards being more faithful to its impetus condition. Progress is a condition striving to express itself more honetly and value itself more openly. "Improvement" is arbitrary to the matter.

  Popular culture is often more conservative than so-called elite culture because it reflects a caricature of the general public, and so isn't intellectual curious or demanding enough to be ahead of the curve by the ideas it embodies. It perpetuates old ideals in flashy new colours.

   Now we're surrounded by ordinariness masking itself as extraordinary. The ordinary is no longer embarrassed before itself. It has even become critical of the extraordinary. Instead of being humbled by the great achievements of the past we are arrogant even before the future.

People now have so little historical minds. All those who want to break from the past are always the most ignorant of it. Art right now lacks an intellectual energy that has soaked up the intellectual thought of humanity and can say "this is an intelligent thought in 2020 that on its own merit could be in conversation with the thoughts past and knows where it would be placed in the lineage.” However, people are having anti-intellectual ahistorical attiudes. People are attacking history for not being diverse in cultural representation, are attacking the best minds for not being their Jesus figure of imitation, and have great disbelief in things which they cannot do themselves. There is no genius that belonged to this race or that, or this religion but not that, or this gender or that. We talk of them because of what they had done, and what that meant to the time, and to us, and that we dont talk about some of the people worth talking about is an historical expression of the time. There are many clever people, many talents, but the genius is the humanity within it, that they transgressed their “character” into something more fundamental either about ourselves or the world around us. That they dissolved their cultural and political position, and became a human being.

  However, people are now saying the literature canon needs revision. Kafka said on how to choose a book that literature should be the axe that smashes the frozen ice within you. Discover your books that mean the wrold to you. Read whatever you want, but don’t read a canon. Read whatever makes your heart beat, your breathing clearly, what positively changes your brain, and makes you feel at home in their words. Any really great writer will ascend beyond what they are. Discovering art should not be deprived to us. And we should not expect children to admire the artists and writers they were taught about at school, no matter if it is revised. These schooled artists will always be those artists they had to study and do homework on. On rarely will they become the artists they love.

  I dont think we should revise anything. An education is not being taught what to learn, its discovering your own thoughts. And real educatioin isn’t like stacking knowledge up in a warehouse but mixing wine in to water, it alters the whole composition. Being knowledgable is knowing more things - there are game shows for that - a real eduation requires much forgetting. We should be far more encouraging of independent guided learning. School should help develop general characteristics of the brain. The Greeks had their nine canonical of poets, the japanese had 36 inmortals of poetry (one for men and women). They dont have to be our favourites. No one has robbed you of that choice. But these canons tell us about the way people thought at a time. And no time, no matter how blind by its idealism can be, no time is the truth and end of a conversation. It is easy to look back and dismiss it, to avoid the harder choice of measuring up to its cultural affect.

   Every artistic decision has a psychologically relative world view. Artistic choices are reflexes. In art (rather in everything) nothing is purely theoretical. Everything is fully representational of your conditional perspective, and feeling of existence. You always have to wind it back to that. Everything else is a secondary effect. Ideas and attitudes are just reflexes. An art cannot be a definition of its form, but only of the condition of the artist who made it, which subsequently gives us some impression of the age it was made in depending on its context. No painting defines painting, no music can define music, no poem poetry, nor dance dance.

4

  People go to the theatre not to think but to see a caricature of their own views, executed with the technique of a children's toy commercial. Showing them everything they love. Now people read books this way too. In valuing books, people only want to see themselves reflected in them. Even when great books are in vogue, they choose to read them because they already know what they are about and going to say and they finish with the same mind as they had begun reading them.  People read 1984 because they already know what it is about, and what it is going to say. Most people simply want to amplify their own point of view.

  Right now stories are like a dramatised op-ed article, featurig their token selling point of diversity, with critics acting as the puritanical bonfire of transgressions of the ideals of the day. But the game is the same as always: to make incredible stories. To interpret life artistically. You have to research in order to find the right symbols for your work. Like going through layers and layers and doors and doors but you keep running into the same symbols. For a visual culture were actually really bad a symbols.

  So you have an idea, fine, but thats not enough, you have to be able to pull it off in the form of a great story. Its not enough just to say youre against something and that you made your work from an ideal. You have to tell great stories, or make great performances. Our story telling is becoming conceptual where the idea behind it is supposed to mean more than the actual merit of the work of art. Which shows our minds are becoming conceptual, less artistic, and more scientific. The concentration on the technique of great arts, of all great arts and great artists, is an insight and experience of reality much higher than that of science.

5

   There has been an increase in melodrama this century. All American television and film (that wasn’t but somewhat including the Marvel / DC films)  seems to have been melodrama (of course French cinema, and independant, has been for longer - its their penchant). Melodrama is sadistic. Its full of pathetic characters who if they werent so pathetic they wouldn't be in this mess. If not of their own fault then they deal with it in a pathetic way. The effect on me is not pity but frustration, like watching a sympathetic horror movie. Sympathy is a sin in art. It makes your characters pathetic and all i can think whilst watching them is if they werent so patheric they wouldnt be in this mess and this wouldnt be a story. If a solution is befitting and negates its whole existence, the idea of the story is bad. Its not their circumstance, its the sympathy that is requested. Melodrama is sadistic - and this is coming from a guy obsessed with Greek tragedy. Euripides wrote melodrama, he wrote romanticism, satyr play, and tragi-comedy, but Euripides did not write tragedy. Character drama/study is always melodrama because it depends on the investigation of the 'soul' the innermost of them. Tragedy is concerned with overarching events that reveal the religious (Dionysian - most closely today related to Shiva that they’re almost the same) nature of the universe, people as agents of action, but not people as characters.

6

  Art can be whatever.  Yes. But don't just go with your instincts like an amateur. You have to understand the meaning of choices, in order to change your instincts. To make your instincts artistic. Otherwise there's no difference between you and your audience. And you don't take them anywhere than they arrived. 

    Then there is the insistance on “accessibility” which can be unhealthy because it rejects the high bar and creates stereotypes of styles. It creates new idealism in the character of the work. And it gives marit of accomplishment just for showing up. Make accessibility wide but on the same basis of making great art In respect and recognition of where the high bar is set.

7

   The worth of a book, music, film today is merely judged by how much it is needed at the time it arrives. The public and the critic have the judgement of the tradesman weighing cattle at the market, as they estimate everything merely for value of supply and demand.

Frida Kahlo "I dont give a shit what the world thinks"

   Critics and social media seem to be having their own insular conversation and they go to movies or listen to music or whatever and judge it on how much they can continue to have that conversation whilst experiencing the work of art, which cannot exist on the merits of its own.

   Majoritism is to anoit bad taste and bad talent over good. To put amateurs in charge. I think less educated and amateur care much more about it.

"There is one good opinion which must always be of consequence to you, namely, your own." R. W. Emerson

  Social media has created the method audience. Instead of the method actor disagreeing with the director over the way a character is portrayed its the audience. Or maybe they feel themselves executive producers. But certainly anything but an audience. They complain as if theyve been forced to pay at gun point.

  The idealism our age has just put a chip on people's shoulder and given all a licence to have an attitude about everything. The opinions of the public dont matter, thats why they feel their deep rights to have them. I'm not an audience first type of artist. The public come to market, and the market sways, but it has no reigns on the artistic activity that has travelled further in its pursuit of ideas than they may have ever been. To make a work of art involves obliterating and exhausting oneself, in pursuit of techniques and ideas that inform the works direction and merit, and reassembling oneself. To dicard that for the public who come to market and place it on the weighing scale of ideals is a joke.

  Plesse be rude, derogatory, offensive, insensitive. Its a cruelest humanity that sacrifices its cruelty. It's against our nature. The 21st century is the conservative 40s and 50s, with the yuppies of the 80s, that overturned the free spiritedness of the 20s and 30s, 60s and 70s.

8

  Make whatever goddamn work you want to make, and that will be the work you made. Just be proud to have manifested what you had envisioned in whatever form you wanted to tell it and be proud it has your name attached to it. And dont take criticism from those who do not inspire you.. Being an artist is to be your own beast. Un monstre sacré.

[linaje-bendito]

¿Porqué las mujeres no pueden ser pastoras ni comandar una congregación si en la biblia hay dos libros escritos por mujeres?, y un tercero apócrifo. Qué opinas de estos conceptos: Gnosticismo Ascetismo Penitencia Zoroastrismo Gracias por tus respuestas, Dios te bendiga con paz y plenitud.

Hola :)

Posiblemente no hay un tema más discutido en la iglesia de hoy que el tema de las mujeres que sirven como pastoras / predicadoras. Por consiguiente, es muy importante no mirar este tema como hombres contra mujeres. Hay mujeres que creen que las mujeres no deberían servir como pastoras y que la Biblia coloca restricciones en el ministerio de las mujeres, y hay hombres que creen que las mujeres pueden servir como predicadoras y que no hay restricciones sobre las mujeres en el ministerio. Este no es un asunto de machismo o discriminación. Es un asunto de interpretación bíblica.1ª Timoteo 2:11-12 proclama, "La mujer aprenda en silencio, con toda sujeción. Porque no permito a la mujer enseñar, ni ejercer dominio sobre el hombre, sino estar en silencio". En la iglesia, Dios asigna diferentes roles a los hombres y a las mujeres. Este es el resultado de la manera en que la humanidad fue creada (1ª Timoteo 2:13) y la manera en la que el pecado entró en el mundo (2ª Timoteo 2:14). Dios, a través de los escritos del apóstol Pablo, restringe a las mujeres de servir en roles de enseñanza y/o tener autoridad sobre los hombres. Esto impide a las mujeres servir como pastoras sobre los hombres, lo cual definitivamente incluye predicarles, enseñarles públicamente y ejercer autoridad espiritual sobre ellos.Hay muchas "objeciones" a este punto de vista sobre las mujeres en el ministerio pastoral. Una objeción común es que Pablo restringe a las mujeres de enseñar porque en el siglo primero, las mujeres por regla general eran incultas. Sin embargo, en ninguna parte de 1ª Timoteo 2:11-14 menciona el nivel educativo. Si la educación hubiese sido un requisito para el ministerio, la mayoría de los discípulos de Jesús probablemente no habrían calificado. Una segunda objeción común era que Pablo solamente restringió a las mujeres de Éfeso de enseñar a los hombres (1ª Timoteo fue escrita a Timoteo, un pastor en la iglesia de Éfeso). La ciudad de Éfeso fue conocida por su templo de Artemisa, y las mujeres eran la autoridad en esa rama del paganismo; por lo tanto, la teoría dice que Pablo sólo reaccionaba contra las costumbres de los idólatras de Éfeso dirigidas por mujeres, y la iglesia necesitaba ser diferente. Sin embargo, en ningún lugar del libro de 1ª Timoteo se menciona a Artemisa, ni Pablo menciona la práctica estándar de los adoradores de Artemisa como una razón para las restricciones en 1ª Timoteo 2:11-12.Una tercera objeción común es que Pablo solamente se está refiriendo a los esposos y las esposas, no a los hombres y a las mujeres en general. Las palabras en griego para "mujer" y "hombre" en 1ª Timoteo 2:11-14podrían referirse a esposos y esposas. Sin embargo, el significado básico de las palabras es más amplio que eso. Adicionalmente, las mismas palabras en griego son utilizadas en los versículos 8-10. ¿Solo los espososdeben orar en todo lugar, levantando manos santas, sin ira ni contienda (versículo 8)? ¿Solo las esposas deben vestirse con ropa decorosa, con pudor y modestia; tener buenas obras y adorar a Dios (versículos 9-10)? Por supuesto que no. Los versículos 8 al 10 claramente se refieren a los hombres y mujeres en general, no solamente a los esposos y a las esposas. No hay nada en el contexto que debiera indicar una limitación para esposas y esposos en los versículos 11 al 14.Sin embargo, otra objeción a esta interpretación de mujeres en el ministerio pastoral es en relación con Miriam, Débora, Hulda, mujeres que mantuvieron posiciones de liderazgo en el antiguo testamento. Es verdad que estas mujeres fueron escogidas por Dios para un servicio especial para Él y que ellas son modelos de fe, coraje y, sí, liderazgo. Sin embargo, la autoridad de las mujeres en el antiguo testamento no es relevante para el tema de los pastores en la iglesia. Las epístolas del nuevo testamento presentan un nuevo paradigma para el pueblo de Dios, la iglesia, el cuerpo de Cristo y, ese paradigma involucra una estructura de autoridad única para la iglesia, no para la nación de Israel o cualquier otra entidad del antiguo testamento.Argumentos similares se hacen usando a Priscila y Febe en el nuevo testamento. En el libro de los Hechos, el capítulo 18, Priscila y Aquila son presentados como ministros fieles de Cristo. El nombre de Priscila es mencionado primero, indicando probablemente que ella era más "prominente" en el ministerio que su esposo. ¿Enseñaron Priscila y su esposo el evangelio de Jesucristo a Apolos? Sí, en su casa "le expusieron más exactamente el camino de Dios" (Hechos 18:26). ¿Dice la Biblia alguna vez que Priscila pastoreó una iglesia, o enseñó públicamente o se convirtió en la líder espiritual de una congregación de santos? Sin embargo, en ninguna parte se describe a Priscila participando en una actividad de ministerio que esté en contradicción con 1ª Timoteo 2:11 al 14.En Romanos 16:1, a Febe se le considera una "diaconisa" (o "sierva") en la iglesia y es altamente elogiada por Pablo. Pero, como con Priscila, no hay nada en las Escrituras que indique que Febe fuera una pastora o maestra de hombres en la iglesia. "Apto para enseñar" es un calificativo dado para los ancianos, pero no para los diáconos (1ª Timoteo 3:1-13; Tito 1:6-9).La estructura de 1ª Timoteo 2:11 al 14 deja la razón perfectamente establecida. El versículo 13 comienza con "Porque" y da la "causa" de lo que Pablo declara en los versículos 11 y 12. ¿Por qué las mujeres no deberían enseñar o tener autoridad sobre los hombres? Porque "Adán fue formado primero, luego Eva. Y Adán no fue engañado; sino que la mujer, siendo engañada, incurrió en transgresión". Esa es la razón. Dios creó a Adán primero y luego creó a Eva a fin de que fuera "ayuda idónea" para Adán. Este orden de la creación tiene una aplicación universal para la humanidad en la familia (Efesios 5:22-23) y en la iglesia.El hecho de que Eva fuera engañada también se da en 1 Timoteo 2:14 como una razón para que las mujeres no sirvan como pastoras o tengan autoridad espiritual sobre los hombres. Esto no significa que las mujeres sean ingenuas o que sean engañadas más fácilmente. Si todas las mujeres son engañadas más fácilmente, ¿por qué se les permitiría enseñar a los niños (quienes son fácilmente engañados) y a otras mujeres (quienes supuestamente son engañadas más fácilmente)? El texto simplemente dice que las mujeres no deben enseñar o tener autoridad espiritual sobre los hombres porque Eva fue engañada. Dios ha dado a los hombres la autoridad de enseñanza principal en la iglesia.Muchas mujeres sobresalen en dones de hospitalidad, misericordia, enseñanza, evangelismo y ayuda. Gran parte del ministerio de la iglesia local depende de las mujeres. Las mujeres en la iglesia no están restringidas de orar o profetizar en público (1ª Corintios 11:5), solamente de tener autoridad en las enseñanzas espirituales sobre los hombres. La Biblia en ninguna parte restringe a las mujeres de ejercitar los dones del Espíritu Santo (1ª Corintios capítulo 12). Así como los hombres, las mujeres, están llamadas a ministrar a otros, a demostrar el fruto del Espíritu (Gálatas 5:22-23), y a proclamar el evangelio a los perdidos (Mateo 28:18-20; Hechos 1:8; 1ª Pedro 3:15).Dios ha ordenado que solamente los hombres sirvan en posiciones de autoridad de enseñanza espiritual en la iglesia. Esto no es necesariamente porque son mejores maestros, o porque las mujeres son inferiores o menos inteligentes (tal no es el caso). Es simplemente la manera en que Dios designó la iglesia para que funcione. Los hombres deben ser ejemplo en el liderazgo espiritual, en sus vidas y a través de sus palabras. Las mujeres deben asumir un papel menos autoritario. Se las anima a enseñar a otras mujeres (Tito 2:3-5). La Biblia tampoco restringe a las mujeres de enseñar a los niños. La única actividad de la que están restringidas es de enseñar o tener autoridad espiritual sobre los hombres. Esto impide que las mujeres sirvan como pastoras de hombres. De ninguna manera esto las hace menos importantes, más bien les da un ministerio enfocado más de acuerdo con el talento dado por Dios.

Te mando un abrazo y que Dios te sorprenda.

[eldoqmentalista]

Melquisedec, El Sacerdote De Dios, Documental end times bible study cath...

Melquisedec, El Sacerdote De Dios

Se dice de un hombre cuya existencia data más allá de nuestros tiempos, se cuenta que fue un sacerdote de Dios, El altísimo, pero también se dice que fue un rey justo, rey de un lugar llamado Salem, por sí esto fuera poco, éste hombre, no tenía ancestros y tampoco tuvo descendencia, el era una especie de elegido, y aunque sus apariciones en los textos sagrados son pocas, aún así, su mera existencia le valió para que incluso, hoy en día, exista una ordenación sacerdotal con su nombre, estoy hablando de del Rey justo de Salem, cuyos conocimientos y habilidades quizás, eran iguales a las de Jesús.

Nadie sabe que pasó con el, a dónde fue, de dónde vino, simplemente se esfumó dejando grandes lagunas para quienes estudiamos su caso, pero sopresivamente y de acuerdo a los textos sagrados, éste hombre, aún en nuestros días, debería estar vivo.

Yo Soy, El DoQmentalista y esyo es: Melquisedec, El Sacerdote De Dios

En los textos sagrados, el nombre "Melquisedec" se menciona sólo 11 veces, Una vez en Génesis, luego en Salmos y las otras 9 en el Libro de Hebreos.

La primera fue cuando Abraham regresó de rescatar a Lot, su sobrino, esto lo podemos ver en Génesis 14:18-20.

El segundo fue un mensaje profético acerca de un rey sacerdote ungido que seguiría el ejemplo de Melquisedec descrito en Salmos 110:1-7.

El caso único es que, aunque Melquisedec nunca ha sido mencionado en otra parte de la Biblia hebrea o el antiguo testamento, parece ser una figura de suma importancia tanto en el judaísmo como en el cristianismo, y se ha convertido en objeto de muchas especulaciones y temas.

Hay quienes afirman que Melquisedec fue en realidad el espíritu de Jesús mucho antes de lo que nosotros conocemos como el nacimeinto de del hijo de Dios.

La palabra hebrea Melchi significa "el Rey de", y la palabra Zedek significa "justicia", y por último la palabra Salem normalmente significa "paz".

Así, la expresión Melquisedec, el rey de Salem, también puede entenderse como "el Rey de la Justicia y de la Paz". Pero ciudado, en la biblia también se menciona que él era un sacerdote del Dios Altísimo.

De esta forma podemos entender que éste hombre, llamado Melquisedec era un rey sacerdotal fuera de lo común, porque no se trataba de un sacerdote cualquiera, sino que era uno, que fue aprobado por Dios.

¿pero porque Dios nombraria a éste hombre su sacerdote y al mismo tiempo Rey de Salem?, ¿dónde es Salem?

Pues bien, algunos podrían decir que la antigua ciudad de Jerusalém era en realidad el Reino de Salem. Pero este no es el caso. veran, antes de que Jerusalem fuera tomada por los antiguos israelitas y se convirtiera en su capital, Jerusalém era una ciudad que pertenecía a los jebusitas; es decir, era una ciudad malvada inhibida por gente maldita.

Los jebusitas adoraban a los dioses paganos, pero no a Jehová/Yahvé, el Dios Altísimo. Posteriormente Dios vio que lo que hacían estos hombres era muy malo y decretó entonces que los israelitas destruyeran completamente a todos los cananeos debido a su actitud pecaminosa, y tal destrucción incluía la antigua ciudad de los Jebusitas.

De esta forma, sería ilógico asumir que Melquisedec, que era un rey sacerdotal justo, gobernara una antigua ciudad pecaminosa llena de gente como los jebusitas.

Melquisedec quizás sí fue el rey sacerdotal de Salem, pero definitivamente no de la antigua Jerusalém.

Desafortunadamente no tenemos en la actualidad datos que nos lleven a descubrir cuál era exactamente éste reino de Salem, un Reino de paz cuyos habitantes serían personas pacíficas dirigidas por un rey pacífico aprobado por Dios. En Salem, todos vivirían pacíficamente para Dios y entre ellos, seguirían a su rey sacerdotal con la siguiente instrucción:

Mateo 22:37-40 El dijo: "'Amarás al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, con toda tu alma, y con toda tu mente'.

Este es el mayor y primer mandamiento.

Y un segundo es semejante: 'Amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo'.

No hay, en toda la biblia e inclusive textos apócrifos, un reino llamado Salem, en dónde todos sus habitantes y rey sacerdotal, cumplan con estás características. A través de la historia de los antiguos israelitas, tampoco hubo un rey que fuera además sumo sacerdote. Estos dos oficios (rey y sacerdocio) siempre fueron ocupados por dos personas diferentes.

Melquisedec sólo habló una vez en toda la Biblia, en Génesis 14:18 dónde dice:

Entonces Melquisedec rey de Salem sacó pan y vino. Era sacerdote del Dios Altísimo, de 19 años, y bendijo a Abram, diciendo: "Bendito sea Abram por el Dios Altísimo Creador del cielo y de la tierra. Y alabado sea el Dios Altísimo, que entregó a tus enemigos en tu mano".

Otro dato interesante es que Melquisedec no experimentó la muerte física: Se une a Enoc y Elías como la tercera persona que no experimenta la muerte. Hebreos 7:3 dice: "Sin padre ni madre, sin genealogía, sin principio de días ni fin de vida, semejante al Hijo de Dios, permanece sacerdote para siempre".

La expresión semejante al hijo de Dios debe llamar mucho la atención, el es comparado con Jesús, e inclusive muchos afirman que se trata del mismo jesús en un tiempo anterior al siglo I de nuestra era, es decir, que Jesús ya había estado en la tierra desde antes de lo que pensabamos, pero eso son sólo especulaciones.

"todo lo que sabemos sobre éste hombre es que no tenía padre ni madre ni árbol genealógico." No nació como los seres humanos. Melquisedec no tenía genealogía. por lo tanto no debe haber sido un mortal ordinario. No tenía ascendencia ni legado de otro, pero era autoexistente. "No teniendo ni principio de días, ni fin de vida" (Hebreos 7:3). Por lo tanto, Él siempre ha existido desde la eternidad! Ni siquiera fue creado, como los ángeles. Pero ahora Él es eternamente auto-existente. Y eso es verdad sólo para la deidad de DIOS, no para la humanidad!

¿podría melquisedec haber sido otro hijo de Dios?, ¿melquisedec era similar a jesus?, ¿eran hermanos?...

No obstante, me atrevo a decir que la inmortalidad de melquisedec no se debe al hombre, independientemente de sí sigue vivo o no, sino a su legado, El, o La Orden De Melquisedec. pero esa es otra historia.

Yo Soy, El DoQmentalista y esto fue: Melquisedec, El Sacerdote De Dios

[borisbubbles]

16. SERBIA

Balkanika - “Nova Deca” 19th place

Out of all the positive morphs I experienced this year, Serbia was the one that I suspected the least. I never hated them the way others did, but eh, I didn’t think highly of them either. Especially when the backstage clips showed them enterting the stage dressed up like members of some inauspicious fertility cult. “Oh.” I thought. “Another Genealogy. Except it won’t make the final. Whatever, NEXT”

How wrong I was though, because it did qualify and caused me to re-evaluate all I knew about life and come to the fucking conclusion that... this is really fucking good??? HOW is an exaggerated mess that has accurately been described as “Balkan Megamix Volume 3″ this great? 

I actually don’t have a clear answer for this as i’m writing this down (we haven’t reached the songs I would spam the replay button on yet), but the core of it is that Balkanika tried REALLY hard to condense 900+ years worth of Balkanic musical tradition in a mere three minutes and fucking pulled it off by... striking battle poses like some Ethno-Power Rangers

GO GO BALKAN RANGERS!!!

The choreography as a whole is just so extra and beautifully overacted. The entire way through, the members of Balkanika strike poses as if in Madonna’s “Vogue”, guided on by the beguiling tunes conjured by Ljubomir’s magic whistle-wand [ed.: here’s the best gif i could make of Old Rasflutin’s background flailing, but it’s way funnier if you pay attention to his presence as you watch “Nova Deca” unfold, so SCROLL UP AND REWATCH RIGHT NAO!!!]:   

Such a beautiful presence we’re not worthy of, y’all. All while the rest of Balkanika are either serving some epic 90 Percussion realness:

or chanelling some Project: Waters of Life sillyness

This could have so easily turned into a San Marinese goopy mess (which I don’t think too highly of, as you know), and briefly it looked like this would be the case; Instead, we found something better.

The plain answer however, lies in that Balkanika didn’t try to be funny and that makes a massive difference. Every piece of overacting, from Mladen’s creepy stares to Ra-Ra-Rasflutin (Serbia’s greatest love machine) prodding the action on from the background, is the product of intense belief and dedication, which... makes it hysterical, but in an endearing sort of way. Balkanika really just can’t help themselves. <3 

However, as I have to take things into account other than just act, I can’t really drag Balkanika much higher than this. Their song, while cool in concept, is kinda a bit too overloaded with quirks, which are largely lost to me because you know, show-stopping staging. (lol I just realized this is such a reverse “O jardim”, how neat they will now be forever ranked next to one another in this ranking). “Nova Deca” also suffers from the fact that I already had a large slew of other faves before I started to love them. As a whole, I think they have the least to offer of those left in the ranking. Oh well, at least we’ll forever have this: 

<3

RANKING SO FAR:

16. Serbia (Balkanika - “Nova Deca”)

17. Portugal (Cláudia Pascoal - “O jardim”)

18. The Netherlands (Waylon - “Outlaw in ‘em”)

19. Ukraine (MÉLOVIN - “Under the ladder”)

20. Macedonia (Eye Cue - “Lost and Found”)

21. San Marino (Jessika ft. Jenifer Brening - “Who We Are”)

22. Sweden (Benjamin Ingrosso - “Dance You Off”)

23. Austria (Cesár Sampson - “Nobody but you”)

24. Latvia (Laura Rizzotto - “Funny girl”)

25. Azerbaijan (AISEL - “X my heart”)

26. Israel (Netta - “Toy”)

27. Norway (Alexander Rybak  - “That’s how you write a song”)

28. Montenegro (Vanja Radovanovic - “Inje”)

29. Armenia (Sevak Khanagyan - “Qami”)

30. Poland (Gromee ft. Lukas Meijer - “Light me up”)

31. Greece (Yianna Terzi - “Oniro mou”)

32. Georgia (Iriao - “For you”)

33. Belgium (Sennek - “A matter of time”)

34. Italy (Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro - “Non mi avete fatto niente)

35. Romania (The Humans - “Goodbye”)

36. Ireland (Ryan O'Shaughnessy - “Together”)

37. Croatia (Franka - “Crazy”)

38. Belarus (ALEKSEEV - “Forever”)

39. Russia (Julia Samoylova - “I Won’t Break”)

40. Spain (Amaia & Alfred - “Tu canción”)

41. Iceland (Ari Ólafsson - “Our choice”)

42. Australia (Jessica Mauboy - “We Got Love”)

43. Czech Republic (Mikolas Josef - “Lie to me”)

FOOTNOTES (optional)

1) I decided not to credit Sanja Ilic simply because he wasn’t on the stage and I feel it’s kinda unfair to credit him just based on his merit as a composer, while Isaura composed AND performed second fiddle to Cláudia, without a letter of on-screen credit. 

2) Re: Intentional vs Unintentional humour: The reason why intentional humour rarely works for me is that it comes with the built-in pressure to laugh, which... makes me less inclined to find something funny because it kinda takes away the choice element of it. Like, I think I have a fairly okay sense of humour, I can decide for myself what I find funny, you know? This is why intentional humour rarely works for me, while unintentional humour nearly always does. For reference, dial back to where I ranked Israel and Norway and Czechia and San Marino (or “Yodel it” and “Space” from last year), all acts that piggybacked on scripted humour

3) DoReDos are one of the few instances this year where intentional humour totally worked for me, although I also realize they’ve largely been hit-or-miss. But we won’t be discussing that soon.

4) Me being a history nerd, I also think the idea of “weaving a song out of literally every Serbian musical quirk ever” is a really cool song concept. It really comes close to an earnest, Balkanic version of “Swedish Smörgåsbord”  <3 5) “Nova Deca” is a way more accurate representation of what actual balkan music sounds like (as opposed to the tiresome, tedious, boring Balkan Ballad). The Folk music channels in Bulgaria, for instance play “Nova Deca”-esque songs all day.   6) A funny argument between my mom and I occured during this song. My mom, who is Bulgarian, argued that Balkanika plagiarized their song from Bulgarian Polyphonic Singing. When I pointed out the song was based on the Byzantine musical traditions, she claimed that the Byzantines stole them from the Bulgarians, which is historically implausible (see note 8). This is one of many reasons I think little of ethnocentrism and nationalism, especially from the Slavs and Greeks. Everyone accuses one another of cultural appropriation (see again: Macedoniagate), when in fact, their geographical proximity exposed them to similar cultural ideas and their geopolitics (warmongering) turned it into a mutually unintelligible wash. 

7) Besides, the entire point of the Balkans is that they support each other due to their cultural similarities in spite of wishing horrific, painful deaths on one another.  <3

8) HISTORY LESSONS WITH BORIS #1: Polyphonic Singing.  Polyphonic singing evolved as a Byzantine response to Roman Catholic liturgical chanting (instituted by Charlemagne, who as Holy Roman Emperor, took measures in making the religion more accessible to the common folk. How do we make the Bible popular? By teaching rich people how to read! What a genius. <3 ). Thus, polyphony spread as Byzantine Christianity spread, which would later become Eastern Orthodoxy after the East-West Schism in the 11th century AD. (hence why polyphony is such a big cultural benchmark all Eastern Orthodox nations, including Russia and Georgia, but not Armenia until their annexation by the Russian Empire in the 19th Century AD (since Armenian Christianity is a cadet branch of Oriental Orthodoxy, which split from Catholicism in the 4th century AD).  Anyway, Bulgaria historically played a massive role in spreading Christianity and its liturgical chanting to their pagan Balkan neighbours, after the Bulgarian Knyaz (a fancy way of saying “Khan”) Boris I converted under the pressure of Byzantine Emperor Michael III. Boris (whom, as you might have guessed, I was named after) used Christianity to pacify the squabbling lords of his realm (which included both pagans and Catholics) and oversaw the creation of the Glagolitic (liturgical) and Cyrrilic scripts to speed up the spread, paving the way for Bulgaria’s Golden Age under his son Simeon. During that Golden Age, btw, much of what is now Serbia came under Bulgarian control, including Belgrade.  So while the Serbs probably did learn polyphony from the Bulgarians, the Bulgarians absolutely, totally, learned it from the Byzantines, who invented the damn’ thing, in their own spin on Charlemagne’s popular church choirs. Mum, you’re WRONG. O:-)

[verdadpresenteadv]

Nuestro maravilloso Dios

sábado, 29 ene. 2022

La grandeza de Moisés

«El Señor hablaba con Moisés cara a cara, como habla cualquiera con su compañero». Éxodo 33: 11

¿QUÉ HABÍA EN LA VIDA DE MOISÉS que le permitió a este hombre de Dios ganarse un lugar especial entre los grandes líderes en la historia de la humanidad? ¿Y cómo pudo soportar a un pueblo tan terco y rebelde durante cuarenta años en el desierto?

La respuesta nos la da el escritor de Hebreos cuando dice que «por la fe [Moisés] dejó a Egipto, no temiendo la ira del rey, porque se sostuvo como viendo al Invisible» (Heb. 11:27; énfasis añadido). Dicho de otra manera, su grandeza fue el resultado de su comunión con Dios. Una comunión tan íntima, que como bien lo señala nuestro texto de hoy: el Señor hablaba con Moisés sin intermediarios.

¿Por qué disfrutó Moisés de ese honor tan grande? Porque la presencia de Dios era para Moisés algo así como el oxígeno que respiraba. Así lo afirma Elena G. White cuando escribe que Moisés «no miraba solamente al futuro lejano esperando que Cristo se manifestase en la carne, sino que veía a Cristo acompañando de una manera especial a los hijos de Israel en todos sus viajes. Dios era real para él, siempre presente en sus pensamientos» (Testimonios para la iglesia, t. 5, 1971, p. 612).

Un ejemplo ilustrativo de esta realidad lo encontramos poco después de haberse producido la apostasía en Horeb, cuando el pueblo adoró al becerro de oro. El Señor dijo entonces a Moisés: «Subirás a la tierra que fluye leche y miel, pero yo no subiré contigo, no sea que te destruya en el camino, pues eres un pueblo muy terco» (Éxo. 33:3). En lugar de su presencia, Dios enviaría a un ángel para acompañar al pueblo. ¿Cuál fue la respuesta de Moisés al Señor? «Si tu presencia no ha de acompañarnos, no nos saques de aquí» (vers. 15).

Tal como dicen Bruce Wilkinson y Larry Libby, con todo lo atractiva que fuese la tierra de la cual fluía «leche y miel», el mayor interés de Moisés no era la tierra de Dios, sino el Dios de la tierra. * Y no es que Moisés no apreciara la compañía de los ángeles; lo que él quería era la presencia de su Señor.

¿Es la presencia de Dios una realidad viviente en tu vida, en mi vida?

Al igual que Moisés, ¿podrías decir: «Señor, si tu presencia no ha de ir conmigo, no me saques de aquí»?

Santo Espíritu, mora hoy en mí de una manera tan plena, que yo pueda, al igual que Moisés, creer que Cristo camina a mi lado en todo momento.

* Bruce Wilkinson y Larry Libby, Talk thru Bible Personalities, Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, 1983, p. 35.

[beatriz-garrido]

El fruto del amor y la misión

"No es un tonto el que da

lo que no puede conservar,

para ganar lo que

no puede perder"

                                Jim Elliot

No hace mucho, en una de esas noches en las que el alma, la vida, las circunstancias que me rodeaban no me dejaban dormir, comencé a buscar ni sé lo que, hasta que el Señor me llevó a una preciosa canción tan antigua como deliciosa; algo que aprendí, enseñé a otros y canté desde lo más profundo del corazón siendo tan solo una adolescente; pero algo que hicieron suyo Jim Elliot y sus cuatros compañeros, y lo cantaron desde el fondo de su alma pocos días antes de partir a la gloria entrando por “portales de esplendor”.

Nadie podría adivinar las lágrimas que derramé escuchándola, palabra por palabra y recordando miles de cosas. Sentí como si el Señor me estuviera acariciando el corazón con una mano de seda, calmando toda mi alma, y recordé las tantas y tantas veces en las que me sentí del mismo modo. Fue entonces cuando he podido apoyar mi rostro sobre su hombro y…. descansar.

De la preciosa vida de Elisabeth Elliot he escrito en diferentes ocasiones, es una vida que me apasiona desde siempre; hoy quisiera dejar algunas pinceladas sobre su hija Valerie, hija de Jim y Elisabeth Elliot, que vivió de muy pequeñita toda aquella… ¿tragedia?, hoy digo, ¡bendición teñida en sangre!, que llega hasta nuestros días, y que ha marcado un hito y la vida de generaciones y personas, entre ellas... la mía.

Aquella preciosa canción escrita por Edith Gilling Cherry de Plymouth, Devon (Inglaterra)…. "We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender", y con la increíblemente maravillosa música del compositor finlandés Jean Sibellius: "Sinfonía Opus 26":

Descanso en ti, mi defensor y escudo,

Pues en la lid contigo a salvo estoy.

En tu poder a combatir acudo,

Descanso en ti y en tu Nombre voy..

.

¡Oh Salvador!, voy en tu santo Nombre,

Tu Nombre amado y digno de loor;

Justicia, Paz y Redención del hombre,

Rey de la Gloria y Príncipe de amor..

.

Por fe yo voy, sintiendo mi flaqueza,

Mas en tu gracia apoyado estoy.

En tu poder está mi fortaleza,

Descanso en ti y en tu Nombre voy..

.

Descansaré contigo al fin en gloria,

Entrando por portales de esplendor.

Tuya es la lucha, tuya la victoria,

Y la alabanza a ti será, Señor..

.

Vamos un poquito con Valerie...

Nacida el 27 de febrero de 1955 en Shell Mera, Ecuador, Valerie era la única hija de Elisabeth y Jim Elliot, misioneros a los indios quechua de la selva amazónica.

En 1956, mientras intentaban llegar a los indios Waodani (una tribu primitiva y salvaje de la edad de piedra) con otros 4 misioneros, Jim fue asesinado con una lanza en enero de ese mismo año. Elisabeth y Valerie continuaron viviendo con los quechuas hasta que milagrosamente fueron invitados a vivir con la tribu Waodani que había matado a Jim, y vivieron con estos indios durante 2 años en seguridad y con gozo; mientras Elisabeth y otra misionera, Rachel Saint, aprendieron a hablar el idioma y les tradujeron la bendita historia del Evangelio. La mayoría de ellos aceptaron la verdad y dijeron que no volverían a matar, y así lo han hecho desde entonces.

Valerie se graduó en el Wheaton College en 1976 con una licenciatura en Literatura Inglesa. Se casó con Walter Shepard poco después, y se mudó a vivir con él en Louisiana.

Walter creció en la República Democrática del Congo con sus padres misioneros.

Valerie, ha pasado más de 44 años siendo esposa de pastor, criando 8 hijos, educando en el hogar y enseñando estudios bíblicos. Tiene 8 nietos y sus hijos adultos.

El ministerio de Valerie y Walter ha sido importante en hospitalidad, dirigiendo reuniones de oración y aprendiendo a vivir en la gracia de Dios con gozo.

Ella ha compartido parte del ministerio de radio, llamado “Gateway to Joy”, con su madre, en Back to the Bible Broadcasting Network.

Habiendo siempre tenido el deseo de ser misionera, se mudó con su esposo y 3 de sus hijos a Kinshasa, en la República Democrática del Congo en 2005 y se quedaron hasta junio de 2008. Por razones de salud, decidieron trasladarse a los Estados Unidos.

El Señor los llevó a un campo misionero estadounidense, y en 2008 se mudaron a Southport, NC, donde plantaron Christ Coastal Church hasta que Walt se jubiló en agosto de 2018. Ahora viven en Long Beach, MS, donde los abuelos y la madre de Walt vivieron la mayor parte de sus vidas.

Podría traeros mucha más información sobre Valerie y su esposo, sus vidas, trabajo y ministerio; pero sólo he querido traeros unas pinceladas por una razón especial…

¡Sí, claro que sí! La historia de aquellos cinco misioneros, la increíble vida de Elisabeth Elliot, que se casó un par de veces más, pero una vida en la que jamás quiso perder el apellido de su primer marido… Elliot, son sucesos e historias de vida sobre las que he escrito y predicado en diferentes ocasiones.

¡Me apasiona toda esta historia! Hoy, simplemente he querido referirme un poquito a la vida de aquella niñita que vivió de primera mano todo lo ocurrido en aquella selva de Ecuador, por diferentes razones….

Lo que marca el ejemplo de unos padres, sus oraciones, el modo en el que nuestros hijos pueden ver como enfrentamos las situaciones más difíciles en las que Dios nos pueda colocar, y el resultado de todo ello.

No todo en la vida de los siervos de Dios es miel con hojuelas; más bien, tal y como comprobó Jim Elliot, le costó la vida; pero el resultado de aquella vida sesgada en plena juventud, trajo consecuencias imborrables para toda la humanidad, comenzando por la familia que dejó bajo el cuidado del Dios al que sirvió aquí en la tierra, siguiendo por aquellos aucas que le quitaron la vida, pero a los que Dios llegó a salvar, y el reguero de bendición que fluyó como agua viva y bendita en su descendencia.

¡Por supuesto que las inolvidables palabras de Jim que os dejé al principio son la verdad más absoluta! ¡Por supuesto que cada palabra del precioso “Descanso en ti” son las más preciosas y consoladoras que puedan existir! Pero tal vez lo que está llenando mi corazón en estos momentos, es que el fruto del amor y la misión, pueden pasar por momentos complicados y difíciles; pero al final, siempre son la bendición más absoluta que pueda existir. Y cuando mi vida y el ministerio que el Señor colocó entre mis manos hace mucho tiempo siguen fluyendo, puedo unirme al canto precioso y descansar en el Señor de mi vida.

Siempre en el bendito amor de Cristo…

Beatriz Garrido

[talkingbl]

The mid-year update of my list of Best Actors in BL

that came in July :) Reminder that for this list, I will only consider actors who have had Main/2nd Main Couple roles in one or more BL-related series and/or films. Purple = new entry or higher ranking from the previous list. Red = lower ranking from the previous list.

Tier 1 - Phenomenal actors who make you believe fully in their characters. These actors have only a few weaknesses but numerous strengths. They evoke empathetic responses, making you feel what the characters feel. The actors in this group can compete with the best actors outside of the genre.

Gun Atthaphan

Billkin Putthipong

Wayne Song

Nanon Korapat

Tier 2 - A full step above Tier 3 actors, these actors are convincing in their roles but struggle with one significant aspect of acting. These actors are typically excellent in emotionally intense scenes, but struggle with light-hearted scenes (rarely vice-versa). There is a recurrent awareness of the fact that these actors are acting that limits suspension of disbelief at times.

Krist Perawat

Fluke Natouch

Ohm Pawat

First Kanaphan

Fiat Pattadon

Singto Prachaya

White Nawat

Off Jumpol

Apo Nattawin

Tier 3 - Above-average actors in the BL genre that do well enough to make you care about their characters. Their characters seem natural and charismatic but there is typically a feeling that these actors are simply playing themselves a lot of the time, which can distract from their characters’ stories.

Max Nattapol

Neo Trai

Tay Tawan

Charles (Shan-Tsun) Tu

Rookie Watch - Rookie BL actors who need practice in key areas, but still offer Tier 3 (and at times above)-level acting. These actors are the ones to watch 2-3 years down the line to adequately judge their growth.

Mix Sahaphap

Phuwin Tangsukyuen

Santa Pongsapak

Bible Wichapas

Park Seoham

Park Jaechan

Honorable Mentions - Actors who do one or two things really well and have great potential but generally float around average.

PP Krit

Podd Suphakorn

Zee Pruk

Earth "Cooheart" Katsammonat

Win Metawin

Some notes:

Bible is damn near a Tier 1 for me. The only reason he's on rookie watch is because he's literally a rookie. He still needs a little practice (especially in delivering dialogue) but his non-verbals are so impressive that the rest almost doesn't even distract me.

Santa is hovering around Tier 2. There's something so incredibly captivating about him and I believe in his character so deeply. Plus that single tear in the My Only 12% trailer is giving me Gun Atthaphan vibes. But he's still a rook and I need to see him in My Only 12% to be absolutely sure on anything.

Win leveled down because he's not really a rookie anymore and also hasn't shown me Tier 3 or above level acting.

Apo has full potential to be Tier 1 one day and I have a feeling this new movie with Mile will catapult him there for me.

[jpaulfontan]

Living in Grace

and I just want to say you are free! Hello, you’ve found the Senior Adult Sunday School Class of Corinth Baptist Church in Singleton, Ms. The title of our lesson for today is: Living in Grace

This will be our 3rd

In a 5-lesson series under the general heading of:

Facing Adversity

We’ll be drawing Scripture from the Book of Philemon

Let’s start this lesson off with a question:

What is your initial

response to the word,

slavery?

Does that word dredge up an emotional response in you

at all?

If so, why?

Well, that really depends

on a number of factors,

now, doesn't it?

Here in the United States

in the 21st century,

most people would associate slavery with that

evil and racist institution that was in place in this country

during the era of the

Civil War and the two

centuries that led up to it.

It is for this very reason,

as we look at Paul's letter to Philemon, we need to be

careful with our understanding

of slavery in this book of

the Bible.

It's important to understand the context of the words as well as the

context of the culture

as much as possible

when interpreting Scripture.

Though some things about humanity never changes, we need to understand that life in the time of the Apostles was very different when compared to today.

Slavery in the first century

was based primarily on economics, not skin color.

When Paul wrote his letter

to Philemon,

roughly a quarter of the population of the Roman Empire were slaves of one sort or another…. as the economy of Rome was based on

slave labor.

People were enslaved for

a number of reasons:

being prisoners of war,

defaulting on a debt,

being born into a slave

family,

and some people even voluntarily

indentured themselves to

make ends meet.

But, freedom for slaves was possible... and common,

being granted by masters

or purchased through

personal savings.

Seems to me the slavery that so many of us look

back to 150 years ago in this land was considerably different

than in Roman days.

I've never heard of slaves

being able to earn any money at all

during the slave days

of the Americas.

It really was an entirely different

world during Roman days.

Paul was under house arrest

in Rome when he wrote this

letter to Philemon.

Philemon was a wealthy man and a

believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and obviously

a friend of Paul's.

I don't know how many

slaves Philemon owned.

But, one of them, a man

named Onesimus, (OH-nes-e-mus), had run

away from Philemon, his

master.

I've read in other places

that Onesimus had robbed Philemon in order to have

the funds he'd need to

flee as far away from his

master as possible.

I've also read that there

was a good chance that Onesimus could have possibly stumbled across

Epaphroditus, (EE-pie-froh-die-tus), en route to

Rome.

Epaphroditus was an envoy of the Philippian church who traveled to Rome to assist the Apostle Paul while he awaited his audience with Caesar.

And, it's entirely possible

that Epaphroditus may have encouraged the run-away slave to seek out Paul in order to gain advice.

Regardless of how he found

his way to Paul, he also found his way to Jesus,

for Paul calls him "his son" in this letter.

Onesimus became a Christian

while in the company of Paul.

Under his tutelage

Onesimus became convicted of

his own wrongdoing toward

his master and was willing

to go back to Colossae.

It was 1200 miles from Rome

to Colossae.

Onesimus had it made as he could have easily concealed himself in the population

of Rome; there were over

a million people there at that time. With this understanding, let’s get into the 1st section of our lesson for today.

Section 1: God’s People are Compelled by Love

Philemon 8-14;

8. For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right,

9. I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus,

10. appeal to you for my son, Onesimus.

I fathered him while I was in chains.

11. Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

12. I am sending him back to you as a part of myself. Receive him as a part of myself.

13. I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place.

14. But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will.

What we're seeing here

is another example of

God working all things

for the good of believers.

We have no way of

knowing for sure that Onesimus robbed his master when he ran away.

What we do know

is that Philemon

now had the opportunity

to receive something back

that was much more than a slave.

Onesimus, through faith in

Jesus Christ,

had become a brother in Christ to his master.

In verse 10,

Paul used the descriptive

terms, "son" and "father"

in a spiritual sense to show his deep affection for Onesimus, and to show that their relationship was more as that of

family.

It's obvious in his letter to Philemon that Paul and Onesimus had become

especially close.

And, this is reflected

in the tone of Paul's

letter to Philemon;

that Paul wished for Philemon to now treat Onesimus as a family member in Christ.

Paul, thanks to his own

"Damascus moment,"

knew first hand about

the transforming power

of God to take even enemies and make them

family.

Paul had had a front-row seat seeing what God could do and

how His grace triumphs over sin.

God had taken Paul,

a persecutor of the church,

and made him a son,

a brother with Christ,

a brother in the church,

and now,

a father in the faith

to others, including

both Philemon and Onesimus.

We Christians are described

in the Bible as

"the people of God."

As the people of God,

we're brothers and sisters

in Christ; we are family!

Because of the atoning death of Christ on the cross,

the church was created for

both Jews and Gentiles to become this single

"people of God."

We are a people who strive to live under

God's ruling care

while we're protected and

cared for by Him.

Now, how was Philemon

going to receive

Onesimus when he returned

to his master?

His options were to follow that gracious and forgiving

option that Paul presented to him

in the letter,

or to deal with Onesimus

according to the harsh

societal standard that

was in place for dealing

with runaway slaves.

Here in North America,

some of the Indian tribes,

like the Souix,

would capture slaves from their neighboring tribes.

If a slave ran away and

was re-captured,

it wasn't uncommon for them

to be hobbled,

made lame,

by cutting their hamstrings.

As for the Romans

concerning slavery;

it was perfectly legal to even

sell their own children

into slavery,

(talk about an incentive

to be a good child!).

The Romans most often beat

their re-captured slaves;

but they also had a brand

that was burned into their

foreheads that marked

them for life as a runaway.

Besides that, killing a slave

wasn't considered murder.

? So don't you know how much

faith and trust Onesimus must have had to do the right thing and return to

his master, Philemon?

So, what were Paul's

views on slavery?

To understand that,

we've got to take a

closer look at the

convention of slavery

during the 1st century.

In considering the church's practice and perspective on slavery, let's look at

some things about it at the time.

Slavery was an embedded

part of the social structure,

welfare system, and

economic activity of the

ancient world.

The absence of a modern democracy made it practically impossible to launch any sort

of effective political

revolution against it.

The most effective means of

improving the life of a slave

was for the master

to treat him or her kindly

with the prospect of

future freedom.

Paul addressed the slaves

in 1st Corinthians 7:21 to pursue their freedom when

it was feasible.

He also wrote in

1st Timothy 1:9-10, that slave traders were being immoral.

In 1st Corinthians 12:13,

Galatians 3:28,

Ephesians 6:8,

and Colossians 3:11,

Paul declared that both the slave and the free were equal in Christ.

And, as we've seen in

this letter to Philemon,

Paul was gently "strong-arming"

Philemon to accept Onesimus in a radically different way than was typical between masters and

slaves.

It was descriptive of a mind-set that, when practiced

more widely,

would cultivate an

ethic and a culture

that would effectively

undermine the practice

of slavery.

Section 2:

God’s People are Related as Family

Philemon 15-17;

15. For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently,

16. no longer as a slave, but more than a slave , as a dearly loved brother.

He is especially so to me, but even more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17. So if you consider me a partner, accept him as you would me.

It's obvious from

these Scriptures that

Paul had pondered....

contemplated the reasons

about why Onesimus had

been separated from

Philemon.

Paul had come to the

inescapable conclusion

that God had wanted for

Onesimus to join His family.

We don't know, for sure,

all of the details that

led Onesimus to run away

from his master.

We don't even know for a

fact that Onesimus had

robbed Philemon.

But what we do know

is that God's sovereign

grace works through

human affairs.

Though Paul understood well

this business of slavery,

he focused on the redemptive

aspect of the cross in

Onesimus's life.

Since being born again,

Onesimus was no longer

merely a slave;

now he was a brother

in Christ

among the people

of God.

Now look;

I don't know of any

direct evidence of

what Philemon did

concerning the returned

slave, Onesimus.

But wouldn't it be

reasonable to assume

that if Philemon

preserved and even

circulated that letter

among the churches,

that he did, in fact,

do as Paul had asked

him to do?

Did he set Onesimus

free?

Who knows?

But I truly believe

that the relationship

between the master and

the slave was

greatly altered.

And, in my opinion,

Philemon most likely

did grant Onesimus'

freedom.

And....And....

I also believe that

Onesimus' response to

his probable freedom,

was to stay on in the

service of Philemon....

as a brother-in-Christ.

Section 3:51

God’s People are Gracious With Each Other

Philemon 18-22;

18. And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.

19. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it, not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self.

20. Yes, brother, may I have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

21. Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

22. But meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

The

"Book"

of Philemon

is the

3rd shortest book

in the Bible.

And yet,

there is a

wealth of wisdom,

teaching,

and knowledge

to be had

from it's mere

335 words.

In it,

Paul extends

a fitting ...

Christ like gesture

toward Philemon

in that,

he offers to take on

any burden

Onesimus had

caused his master.

He did this

in an effort

to reconcile

these two men

to each other.

This is

a picture of

"gospel grace!"

Paul was simply

doing exactly the

same thing

Jesus Christ did.

He was willing to

take on

the penalty for

Onesimus

just as

Jesus did for us.

In this way,

Paul's effort was

to reconcile these

men,

and Jesus...well,

He did what He did

to reconcile us to

the Father.

Like I said,

it's a picture of

gospel grace.

What Paul was doing,

essentially, was asking

Philemon to forgive

Onesimus.

Forgiveness is an

interesting thing, though.

You might ask,

"What's so hard about it?

It doesn't

cost you anything."

More often than not,

it does have a cost.

In the first place,

it means letting go

of the past.

It means letting go

of the anger.

It means letting go

of the sense of

moral superiority.

It really does

require sacrifice.

But, it IS a noble act;

and, it's expected of

Christians.

!We Christians have

received the

grace and forgiveness

of God!

For this very reason,

Paul felt confident that

Philemon would obey

his request and

welcome Onesimus home

as a beloved brother

in Christ. Now, if you’ve watched the past few lessons, you’ve watched me as I learned something about Paul’s imprisonment. A 4th missionary journey undertaken by Paul, AFTER his release from house arrest in Rome, was something I had been completely ignorant of. And yet, it did happen. Everything points to the fact that Paul did get to stand before Caesar and answer to the charges he’d been under arrest for…. for the previous four years. In fact, the final verse in this letter to Philemon, Paul even goes so far as to request that his friend prepare a guestroom for him, as he was anticipating his release from Roman custody. (Tongue-in-cheek; Now, how do you suppose he could have known that?)

In closing,

I'd just like to

point out this.

The gospel is the

story of Christ dying

in our place and

being raised for us,

and this story is to

affect

and to shape the

way Christians live.

The gospel is the

story the Holy Spirit

uses to radically

transform not only

the way we think,

but also the way we

treat others,

especially those

within the church.

Let's pray.....

[rivaeducador]

Mitos y verdades de los Millennials, una aproximación entre instrumentos y la investigación científica

Una de las principales funciones de la academia es, sin duda, comprobar o desmitificar los diferentes prejuicios que se tengan sobre un acontecimiento, un grupo de personas o, sencillamente, sobre un hecho cualquiera. Y es que los mitos, las leyes o los imaginarios se propagan velozmente y, en algunos casos, llegan para siempre quedarse. De ahí el papel de los investigadores en atacar la mentira y defender la verdad, más si se trata en las ciencias sociales, teniendo en cuenta su alto y hermoso grado de subjetividad.

En efecto, esta nueva entrada de este blog educativo, intentará, desde cuatro fuentes académicas, desmentir una serie de mitos que se han tejido en la última década sobre los comportamientos de los millennial, que han sido varios y, como veremos más adelante, inmerecidos en algunas ocasiones  e injustamente reprochados. Con esto, empezaremos a abordar a esta interesante generación, que será una gran protagonista de la construcción del presente y del futuro del siglo XXI.

Entonces, y ya entrando en materia, que mejor empezar con la parte religiosa, se ha dicho de esta generación dos mitos puntuales: que no cree en Dios y desconocen totalmente la Biblia, que no le interesa saber de ninguna religión, porque, supuestamente, entiende que un culto es un espacio para hacer y ganar dinero con los incrédulos y que lo más importante es el ser humano, entendido como un ser biológico y no religioso. Se ha sostenido así que las religiones están encaminadas a desaparecer en el futuro, por el creciente desapego que tienen los jóvenes respecto a cualquier tipo de credo religioso.

Religious Studies as a whole is more relevant than ever as we see a world in which religion isincreasingly significant from an Argentinian Pope, to ISIS to the Hindutva rule in India. Onemight suppose then that Biblical Studies has less importance. But instead, I would argue thatthe study of New Testament has its place within a global study of religion. With more than abillion Christians on the planet, even if a decreasing number come from the western world,global citizens and those who wish to work in the global marketplace must understand the basisof the faith of the people they encounter, whether they be Muslims, Hindus, Baha'i or evenChristians. For many Christians that faith is still grounded in the Bible, and thus the study of theBible is necessary, but as importantly, the study of the use of the Bible is also essential. However one can only do the kind of sophisticated rhetorical and sociological analysis that Ihave envisioned here if one understands the gap between its place as a product of antiquity andits place in the modern world. Exposing that gap and mining what it tells us about thedevelopment of human groups and the manifestations of power through rhetoric and religionprovide us an opportunity to make Religious Studies continually relevant to the identity of achanging Millennial generation (Reed, 2015).

MITO 1 y 2 sobre los millennials: no cree en Dios y desconocen totalmente la Biblia

Instrumento: Mi compañera de Maestría, Diana Bohorquez, así como muchas otros compañeros de estudio y de trabajo, me han ayudado a comprender y a desmitificar que este mito, en gran medida, no se cumple, porque son muchos más los que creen en Dios y, por varios canales, intentan ser defensores y comunicadores de la Biblia, así como de los valores y las enseñanzas de la religión cristiana. Esto lo he podido comprobar a través de sus redes sociales, pendas de uso diario y forma de vida.  La generación de los Millennials creció con el inolvidable: Dios mio, en tus manos colocamos este día que ya pasó y la noche que llega. 

Estimulo: 

Comprobamos así, y a partir de esta investigación, que estos dos mito del todo no son cierto, en tanto esta generación en cuenta, por ejemplo, en la Biblia, un trascendental e histórico estudio cultural para la humanidad, teniendo en cuenta, además, el Nuevo Testamento, que básicamente retrata la vida de Jesucristo, ayudando a esta generación de verse y entenderse en un sentido sentimentalmente humanista. Los valores cristianos los encuentra interesantes, como lo son, por ejemplo, la solidaridad, la bondad, el colocarse en el lugar del otro y el perdón, que le permiten reflexionar, explicarse desde un discurso social del bien y, por qué no,  encontrarse con sus propios padres a través de una misma postura religiosa, la creencia en Dios.

Sin embargo, hay otras investigaciones que desmientan todo lo anterior, “los millennials son las nuevas generaciones de consumidores; adultos jóvenes nacidos entre 1982 y 2001, quienes representan un 33 % de la población colombiana. Los miembros de esta generación, respecto a las anteriores, son más educados, menos creyentes en asuntos de religión, más tecnológicos y más liberales en temas políticos” (Peñalosa Otero & López Celis, 2016)

Por otro lado, aterrizamos en el mito de que a esta generación no le interesa ser emprendedora, en términos de conformar empresa, de generar grandes beneficios económicos en su proyecto de vida, por estar más pendiente en viajes y en la protección del medio ambiente, de este modo, se ha sostenida que le interesa otro tipo de formación profesional, menos las relacionadas con las ciencias de la  administración.

When we look at the results ofour research it shows there is a great interest of young people to start a business and many of them are willing toundertake risks and challenges of entrepreneurship. Our research showed the preferences of students in terms of typeof partners, legal form of enterprise, size of enterprise and approach to form competitive advantages. During theresearch we also found many unsure answers that came from maybe lack of experiences or not thinking about future possibilities. Results of our research also showed the preferences to form start-ups and search for own innovativeideas. The popularity of start-ups and possibilities to get more supports from the government attracts students to start business and get involved in the business activities. Young people also search for diversity of partners in the business and for the creative spaces they can start the collaboration and search for entrepreneurial support (Papula, 2015)

Encontramos así, que las investigaciones europeas dan cuenta de otro tipo de verdad, una que sostiene que a la generación de los millennial si le interesa el emprendimiento para adquirir su propios recursos económicos, pues como sabemos, y esto sí ha sido varias veces comprobado, no le interesa trabajar en una empresa tradicional 10 o 20 años, como si es el sueño y el proyecto de vida de los Baby Boom, tan es así que prefieren inscribirse en estudios de programas académicos relacionados con ciencias de la administración, para materializar sus propios  estudios en sus sueños personales, en ganar dinero, pero para ellos solos, mas no para un empleador. De ahí las dificultades que tienen las empresas en la actualidad de reclutar a trabajadores de esta generación.

Así mismo, se encuentra que “esta generación es también la más dispuesta a emprender que ha tenido España. Según cifras del Observatorio del Emprendimiento, ya el 62% del PIB del país depende de autónomos, pequeñas y medianas empresas (Red GEM España, 2015) y, entre los jóvenes que estudian, el 26,8% tiene o planifica tener un emprendimiento en los próximos cinco años (GAD3, 2016).

MITO 3 de los Millennials:  no le interesa ser emprendedora, en términos de conformar empresa

Instrumento: Juan Carlos Mesa, Harold Cerón y Antonio Rivadeneira, son tres emprendedores que han soñado siempre con conformar empresas, y si bien provienen de clase media, hoy pueden decir que tienen grandes negocios en La Candelaria, como lo son, por ejemplo, el restaurante Origen Bristo; Café Rosas Bar y Rosas Pizza, se han prometido seguir luchando por sus empedramientos y sueños de ser cada día mejores empresarios. También he podido conocer de varios casos de emprendiemito de esta generación, que se motiva, que se exige y que parece ser no  tiene límites. 

Estímulo: Con el estralandia esta generación creció creando sus propios proyectos, ya sean artísticos o arquitectónicos.

Los millennials cuentan en su haber con varias características que facilitan y estimulan el desarrollo de proyectos empresariales, además del acicate del ambiente de bajo empleo que impulsa el autoempleo. Su gran familiaridad con la tecnología, su transnacionalidad y su buen nivel de formación profesional son algunas de estas características”. (Álvarez Monzoncillo , 2017)

En cuarto lugar,  está el mito o, mejor, el prejuicio que consiste en que esta generación es una minoría en el contexto laboral y que no es tenida en cuenta para liderar importantes procesos tanto laborales como académicos, teniendo en cuenta su edad y su experiencia. Parecería ser que a esta generación le hacen una especie de matoneo intelectual las demás generaciones, toda vez que se los quiere tratar siempre como menores que no son capaces de tomar importantes decisiones en el mercado, en razón, en gran medida, a los anteriores mitos que se acabaron de describir. Se entiende así entonces que las demás generaciones quieren aminorar o ignorar el gran papel que, desde ya, viene cumpliendo esta generación en el siglo XXI.

Generational diversity is the new normal in most organizations. Millennials now make up the majority of the US workforce. As Baby Boomers enter retirement and Millennials enter leadership positions, the paradigms and models of leadership must be reexamined, and possibly swept away. Shared Leadership may hold a prominent position in the organization of the near future based on observations about Millennials leadership preferences (McCleskey, 2018).

Quiere decir entonces que, en razón de que los Baby Boom ya se están jubilando, el mercado laboral está teniendo como protagonista a los millennial y, por esa razón, se tiene que empezar una nueva pedagogía organizacional en las empresas sobre liderazgo, teniendo en cuenta que estas generaciones laboran, visualizan, lideran, se comunican, proyectan y administran de una manera distinta a la de cualquier otra generación.   Motivo por el cual las compañías deben dar ese salto a la disrupción digital y de liderazgo,  con el fin de no ser condenadas a quedarse y permanecer en el olvido y en el estancamiento de una crisis financiera y generacional.

MITO 4 de los millennials: esta generación es una minoría en el contexto laboral y que no es tenida en cuenta para liderar importantes procesos tanto laborales como académicos

Instrumento:  Queda claro que la Escuela de Educación de la Universidad Sergio Arboleda este mito es pura carreta, pues sus directivos Juan Sebastián Perilla, Juan Felipe y Gerardo dan cuenta de que han estado preparados para liderar grandes proyectos educativos de transformación social , con juventud y templanza han dado muestra clara que los millennials si que pueden comandar tanto contextos educativos como laborales. TOMADA: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158796656151258&set=t.694901257&type=3&theater. 

Estímulo: 

Tanto como en mundo como en Colombia los programas juveniles acaparaban toda la atención de todos el público colombiano, convirtiéndose en los reyes de la programación. Esto daba cuenta de la importancia de resaltar, desde los medios culturales, la relevancia de esta generación en los siguientes años. Programas:

Oki Doki.

Francisco el Matemático.

De Pies a Cabeza.

Conjunto Cerrado.

Sabor a Limón.

“Como producto del movimiento de autoestima de los años noventa que dominó el programa escolar, están acostumbrados a recibir comentarios frecuentes de elogio, así como reconocimientos de decimonoveno lugar. Son superiores tecnológicamente a las personas de generaciones anteriores, incluyendo a las de la generación “X”. Tienen fácil acceso a la información a través de la tecnología} muchos de ellos tienen un conocimiento global del mundo y valoran las diversas culturas, experiencias y ambientes. Tienden a aceptar las diferencias y miden a las personas por la calidad de su rendimiento, no por sus características. Cuando ingresan al lugar de trabajo, aportan entusiasmo conjuntamente  con un sentido de derecho. Muchos esperan que les proporcionen una trayectoria de carrera, supervisiones controladas y comentarios regulares de elogio. Suelen tener mentalidad cívica y quieren trabajar con objetivos importantes”, (Chirinos, 2009)

Y, finalmente, se encuentra el mito que a esta generación, teniendo en cuenta su supuesta incomodad con las realidades posmodernas,  le apasiona la discusión, el pleito, la contienda, ya sea en un estrado judicial o en las relaciones interpersonales  no buscas nuevas alternativas de solución de conflictos. Todo lo anterior en un hábito de querer siempre tener la razón, independientemente si se tiene o no el mejor argumento o línea argumental que  le permita llegar a verdaderos consensos.

MITO 5 sobre la generación millennials:  le apasiona la discusión, el pleito, la contienda, ya sea en un estrado judicial o en las relaciones interpersonales.

Instrumento: En varias veces he cambiado de contexto laboral, y si algo rescato es que varios de mis compañeros de trabajo o de estudio hoy se encuentran vinculados ya sea en la ONU, la JEP o el Centro de Memoria, por esa razón se puede decir que varias de las personas de esta generación de verdad le apuestan  apuestan a la paz, a la reconciliación y a la mediación. Y es que como no olvidar esa gran marcha del 4 de febrero del 2008 contra las Farc, que sin duda  alguna marcó una generación en pro del fin de la guerra y la apuesta hacia un proceso de paz.

Foto 1: Wendy Betancourt, ONU

Foto 2 Juan Felipe García y Diana Ascencio, JEP

Foto 3 Luis Carlos Manjarrez, Centro de Memoria

Perhaps millennials willabsorb the same litigiousness that has become a defining aspectof American life. But if there were ever a generation likely toeschew this cultural characteristic, it would be this one.Throughout their lives, millennials will experiencepersonal and business conflicts, just like every prior generation.The question is how they will elect to resolve those conflicts.Based on their financial risk aversion, interdisciplinaryeducations, and unprecedented exposure to diverse communitiesnationally and internationally, they will likely find mediation afar more natural fit than litigation. This is a reality for whichlaw schools, and the legal system at large, should prepare (Benston, 2019).

Todo lo anterior es desmentido por esta investigación, la cual precisa que a esta generación, teniendo en cuenta su heterogeneidad, interdisciplinariedad y diversidad, comprende en la mediación una autentica manera de solucionar tanto sus diferencias interpersonales como sus conflictos con la justicia. La autora entonces plantea la necesidad de que en las escuelas de Derecho se le preste total atención a estos instrumentos de solución pacífica, garantista y efectiva de conflictos, como lo es, sin duda, la mediación y la conciliación.

Justamente, el activismo político, a través de la tecnología, también llama la atención de esta generación, “Plataformas como Change.org con millones de usuarios registrados, muchos de ellos pertenecientes a la generación millennials, y miles de campañas creadas muestran las posibilidades de la tecnología como instrumento para el activismo político. Detrás de cada de las campañas creadas se encuentra la fuerza de un usuario, o de un grupo, que ha iniciado una petición. La suma de adhesiones genera poder ciudadano y posibilita que muchas peticiones se conviertan en pequeñas-grandes victorias. Es el reencuentro de un “nosotros” desde la nueva individualidad comprometida y consciente” (Martín & Rubio , 2015)

En conclusión, haber desmitificado estos cinco mitos, a partir de estas investigaciones internacionales, nos ayuda a atender, comprender y a encontrarnos con esta generación para encontrar las mejores herramientas de intervención e integración pedagógicas, ya sea en el plano religioso, social, empresarial, sicológico y jurídico. Y por qué no, su deseo de querer la paz, de encontrarse con el otro, de querer un mejor mundo para las próximas generaciones.

“Los Millennials fueron marcados por eventos como el ataque del 11 de septiembre al World Trade Center, la popularidad de google, youtube, wikipedia, redes sociales como facebook y twitter, entre otras, la guerra de Irak y de Afghanistan, el Tsunami de Asia, la recesión del 2008, Ms. office como parte de la vida académica y laboral. Este grupo generacional ciertamente disfrutó, y disfrutan, de las bondades de las conquistas de la anterior generación, pero con ellos surgieron también nuevas ideas, otras maneras de hacer las cosas. La Generación Y tiene un pensamiento y actuación diferente, es por esto que ha suscitado tanto interés entre las empresas e investigadores de la actualidad. Estos quieren cambiar el mundo, ser más correctos ,más honestos” ( Díaz Sarmiento & Roncallo Lafont , 2017)

Estímulo:

Generación millennials en contra de la GUERRA, en pro de la PAZ, la Mediación y la Reconcialación:

Generación quiere vivir más en VIVO como la guerra: 9/11

Bibliografía:

1.       Benston, S. (2019). Mediation and Millennials: A Generational Shift in Dispute System Preferences. Columbia: Pace Law Review.

2.       McCleskey, J. (2018). Journal of Management Science and Business Intelligence. Millcreek: Journal of Management Science and Business Intelligence.

3.       Papula, J. (2015). Entrepreneurship in the Eyes of the Young Generation. Bratislava: Procedia Economics and Finance.

4.       Reed, R. (2015). A Book for None? Teaching Biblical Studies to Millennial Nones. Carolina del Norte: Randall Reed Appalachian State University.

5.       Díaz Sarmiento , C., & Roncallo Lafont , L. (2017). Entendiendo las generaciones: una revisión del concepto, clasificación y características distintivas de los baby boomers, X y millennials . Clío América, 17.

6.       Álvarez Monzoncillo , J. (2017). Millennials, la generación emprendedora. Madrid: Editorial Ariel.

7.       Chirinos, N. (2009). Características generacionales y los valores. Observatorio Laboral Revista Venezolana, 22.

8.       Martín, A., & Rubio , R. (2015). Jóvenes y generación 2020. Revista de Estudios de Juventud , 226.

9.       Peñalosa Otero, M., & López Celis, D. (2016). La generación de los millennials frente al consumo socialmente responsable. Cuadernos Latinomaericanos de Administración, 15.

[diariodigitalcristiano]

Pastor David Platt oró por el presidente Donald Trump

El presidente Donald Trump visitó la iglesia de la Biblia McLean en 2019, donde el pastor conocido David Platt oró por él en el escenario.

"Oh, Dios, te alabamos como el único rey universal de todos", Platt oró con una mano sosteniendo una Biblia abierta y la otra sobre la espalda de Trump. 

"Tú eres nuestro líder y nuestro señor y te adoramos. Hay un solo Dios y un solo salvador y eres tú. Tu nombre es Jesús y te exaltamos, Jesús.” "Y sabemos, necesitamos su misericordia. Necesitamos su gracia, necesitamos su ayuda, necesitamos su sabiduría en nuestro país. Y ahora estamos de pie, en nombre de nuestro presidente, y oramos por su gracia y por su Misericordia, y tu sabiduría sobre él.” 

"Dios, oramos para que sepa cuánto lo amas. Tanto que enviaste a Jesús a morir por sus pecados, por nuestros pecados, así que oramos para que te vea. Que confíe en ti. Que lo haga. Apóyate en Ti. Que él gobierne y tome decisiones de maneras que sean buenas para la justicia, buenas para la justicia y buenas para la equidad, todo buen camino...” 

"Señor, oramos, oramos para que le des toda la gracia que necesita para gobernar de la manera que acabamos de ver en 1 Timoteo, capítulo 2, que llevará a vidas pacíficas y tranquilas, piadosas y dignas en todos los sentidos. Dios, oramos por tu bendición, de esa manera, sobre su familia. Oramos para que les des fuerza, para que les des claridad, sabiduría.” "El temor del Señor es el comienzo de la sabiduría. Los tontos desprecian la sabiduría y la instrucción. Por favor, oh Dios, dale sabiduría. Y ayúdale a liderar nuestro país, junto con otros líderes. 

Oramos hoy por los líderes en el Congreso. Oramos por los líderes en los tribunales. Oramos por los líderes a nivel nacional y estatal...” "Por favor, oh Dios, ayúdanos a buscarte. Ayúdanos a confiar en tu Palabra. Ayúdanos a buscar tu sabiduría y vivir de una manera que refleje tu amor y tu gracia, tu justicia y tu justicia. Oramos por tus bendiciones en nuestro presidente hacia ese fin. En el nombre de Jesús oramos. Amén".

Trump se fue sin pronunciar un discurso y pronunció las palabras "gracias" mientras saludaba a la audiencia aplaudiendo mientras salía del escenario. 

El domingo también fue el "Día especial de oración para el presidente", dirigido por el evangelista Franklin Graham, pero los dos eventos parecían no estar relacionados. Según la Casa Blanca, Trump visitó la Biblia McLean "para visitar al pastor y orar por las víctimas y la comunidad de Virginia Beach", según The Hill. Un pistolero mató a 12 compañeros de trabajo en Virginia Beach el viernes. McLean Bible está a unos 200 kilómetros de Virginia Beach y los disparos no se mencionaron en las oraciones de Platt. 

Trump acababa de salir de jugar golf y llevaba una chaqueta deportiva sobre su atuendo de golf.Más de 300 líderes cristianos firmaron una declaración en apoyo del evento de oración de Graham por Trump. 

El nombre de Platt no aparece en la lista de firmantes. Trump tuiteó que el evento de oración de Graham lo ayudará a ganar. "¡Nos uniremos todos y GANARÁN! Gracias Franklin", escribió con un retweet de Graham anunciando el evento. 

En una entrevista con The Christian Post, Graham argumentó que el día especial de oración no fue un evento partidista. "Mi oración no es un respaldo del presidente", dijo. “Es simplemente pedirle a Dios que le dé sabiduría porque si toma una buena decisión, es bueno para todos nosotros. Si él toma una mala decisión, es malo para todos nosotros. "Ya seamos republicanos, demócratas o independientes, esto es solo pedirle a Dios que lo guíe y lo dirija, ya que toma decisiones todos los días que impactan nuestras vidas".

Graham también dijo que el evento de oración estaba ligado al debate sobre si Trump debía ser acusado. Si los adversarios políticos de Trump tienen éxito, dijo Graham, "podría llevar a una guerra civil".

El pastor David Platt ofreció la siguiente explicación de por qué eligió orar por Donald Trump:

Querida familia de MBCA aveces nos encontramos en situaciones que no vimos venir, y nos enfrentamos con una decisión en un momento en que no tenemos la libertad de deliberación, por lo que hacemos todo lo posible para glorificar a Dios. Hoy me encontré en una de esas situaciones. Al final de mi sermón en la reunión de adoración de la 1:00, me puse a un lado por lo que pensé que serían unos momentos de reflexión tranquila mientras nos preparábamos para tomar la Cena del Señor. Pero inmediatamente me llamaron tras bastidores y me dijeron que el presidente de los Estados Unidos se dirigía a la iglesia, que estaría allí en cuestión de minutos y que nos gustaría que oráramos por él. 

Inmediatamente pensé en mi deseo de guardar la integridad del evangelio en nuestra iglesia. Como dije en el sermón de hoy, solo Cristo nos une. Me encanta que tengamos más de 100 naciones representadas en la familia de nuestra iglesia, incluyendo todo tipo de personas con historias personales y opiniones políticas variadas de diversas situaciones socio económicas. Está claro en nuestra iglesia que la única razón por la que estamos juntos es porque tenemos el mismo Rey que adoramos, adoramos, tememos, 

Es por eso que, tan pronto como escuché esta solicitud detrás del escenario, el pasaje de la Palabra de Dios que vino a mi mente fue 1 Timoteo 2:1-6: "Primero que todo, entonces, insto a que se hagan súplicas, oraciones, intercesiones y agradecimientos para todas las personas, 2 para los reyes y todos los que ocupan altos cargos, para que podamos llevar una vida tranquila y pacífica, piadosa y digna en cada camino. 3 Esto es bueno, y es agradable a los ojos de Dios nuestro Salvador, 4 que desea que todas las personas se salven y lleguen al conocimiento de la verdad. 5 Porque hay un solo Dios, y hay un solo mediador entre Dios y los hombres, Jesucristo hombre, 6 que se dio a sí mismo en rescate por todos, que es el testimonio dado en el momento adecuado". 

Basado en este texto, sé que es bueno y agradable a los ojos de Dios, orar por el presidente. Entonces, en ese momento, decidí aprovechar esta oportunidad única para que nosotros, como iglesia, oremos por él juntos. Mi objetivo no era de ninguna manera respaldar al presidente, sus políticas o su partido, sino obedecer el mandato de Dios de orar para que nuestro presidente y otros líderes gobiernen de la forma en que lo describe este pasaje.Volví a dirigir la Cena del Señor y luego salí del escenario, donde pronto llegaría el presidente. En ese breve momento, oré específicamente por la oportunidad de hablarle el evangelio y por la fidelidad para orar el evangelio sobre él. Si bien no voy a entrar en los detalles de nuestra conversación detrás del escenario, uno de nuestros otros pastores y yo hablamos el evangelio de una manera que oré fue claro, directo y compasivo. Luego volví al escenario, leí  1 Timoteo 2:1-6 y traté de orar la Palabra de Dios sobre el presidente, otros líderes y nuestro país. Después de orar, el presidente salió del escenario sin hacer comentarios y cerramos nuestra reunión celebrando héroes entre nosotros, una pareja que ha pasado los últimos 48 años difundiendo el evangelio en lugares remotos donde nunca había ido antes de que llegaran. 

Luego recitamos la Gran Comisión como siempre lo hacemos, enviándonos unos a otros a la ciudad para la gloria de nuestro Rey. Quería compartir todo esto con ustedes en parte porque sé que algunos dentro de nuestra iglesia, por una variedad de razones válidas, están dolidos de haber tomado esta decisión. Esto pesa mucho en mi corazón. Amo a todos los miembros de esta iglesia, y solo quiero guiarnos con la Palabra de Dios de una manera que trascienda el partido y la posición política, sane las heridas de la división racial y la injusticia, y honre a cada hombre y mujer hechos a la imagen de Dios. Entonces, aunque estoy agradecido de que tuviéramos la oportunidad de obedecer a 1 Timoteo 2 de una manera única hoy, no quiero hacer nada a propósito que socave la unidad que tenemos en Cristo.Al final, ¿orarías conmigo por la semilla del evangelio que se sembró hoy para dar fruto en el corazón del presidente? ¿También orarías conmigo para que Dios nos ayude a proteger el Evangelio en todas las formas a medida que lo difundimos por todas partes? 

Y, por último, supongo que todos nosotros enfrentaremos otras decisiones esta semana en las que no tenemos tiempo para deliberar sobre qué hacer. Oro ahora por la gracia y la sabiduría para que todos hagamos exactamente lo que hablamos en la Palabra de hoy: apunta a la gloria de Dios, alinéate con el propósito de Dios y cede a la soberanía de Dios.

Te amo iglesia

Tu pastor

[hellotailor]

The deities of American Gods are elemental, coming from a time when weather was lethal, inexplicable, and awe-inspiring. To make that clear onscreen, Starz spent a buttload of cash on CGI clouds and lightning bolts. It pays off, illustrating the power and weight of the Old Gods.

Co-writer Michael Green’s career spans TV and blockbuster movies (Logan), but for American Gods fans, I recommend his original series Kings. It’s a modern-day political drama inspired by the Biblical story of David, starring Ian McShane as a tyrannical king.

Kings isn’t a Christian show in the sense that, say, 7th Heaven is a Christian show. It uses the Bible as a literary and mythological source, with an Old Testament God sharing his views through signs and portents. This God chooses a king by sending a flock of butterflies to land on his head like a crown, and signals his disfavor by cursing someone with bad luck.

Kings is full of characters who interact with God on their own terms, and it predictably failed to find an audience on NBC in the late 2000s. American media is saturated with Christian imagery and politics, but network TV dramas are wary about backlash if they examine Christianity in a critical or experimental way. Especially if they portray Bible stories in a fantasy context.

Eight years later, Michael Green’s interest in religion found a new home with American Gods.

[READ MORE]

[linaje-bendito]

Dios te bendiga oye una pregunta me gustaría saber tu opinión respecto a eso, me la contestas mañana oh cuanto tengas tiempo, que piensas sobre una mujer que predica? Oh que llega a ser pastora? Cres que debe de ser así?

Hola :)

No importa lo que yo piense. Vamos a ver qué dice la Biblia.

Posiblemente no hay un tema más discutido en la iglesia de hoy que el tema de las mujeres que sirven como pastoras / predicadoras. Por consiguiente, es muy importante no mirar este tema como hombres contra mujeres. Hay mujeres que creen que las mujeres no deberían servir como pastoras y que la Biblia coloca restricciones en el ministerio de las mujeres, y hay hombres que creen que las mujeres pueden servir como predicadoras y que no hay restricciones sobre las mujeres en el ministerio. Este no es un asunto de machismo o discriminación. Es un asunto de interpretación bíblica.1ª Timoteo 2:11-12 proclama, "La mujer aprenda en silencio, con toda sujeción. Porque no permito a la mujer enseñar, ni ejercer dominio sobre el hombre, sino estar en silencio". En la iglesia, Dios asigna diferentes roles a los hombres y a las mujeres. Este es el resultado de la manera en que la humanidad fue creada (1ª Timoteo 2:13) y la manera en la que el pecado entró en el mundo (2ª Timoteo 2:14). Dios, a través de los escritos del apóstol Pablo, restringe a las mujeres de servir en roles de enseñanza y/o tener autoridad sobre los hombres. Esto impide a las mujeres servir como pastoras sobre los hombres, lo cual definitivamente incluye predicarles, enseñarles públicamente y ejercer autoridad espiritual sobre ellos.Hay muchas "objeciones" a este punto de vista sobre las mujeres en el ministerio pastoral. Una objeción común es que Pablo restringe a las mujeres de enseñar porque en el siglo primero, las mujeres por regla general eran incultas. Sin embargo, en ninguna parte de 1ª Timoteo 2:11-14 menciona el nivel educativo. Si la educación hubiese sido un requisito para el ministerio, la mayoría de los discípulos de Jesús probablemente no habrían calificado. Una segunda objeción común era que Pablo solamente restringió a las mujeres de Éfeso de enseñar a los hombres (1ª Timoteo fue escrita a Timoteo, un pastor en la iglesia de Éfeso). La ciudad de Éfeso fue conocida por su templo de Artemisa, y las mujeres eran la autoridad en esa rama del paganismo; por lo tanto, la teoría dice que Pablo sólo reaccionaba contra las costumbres de los idólatras de Éfeso dirigidas por mujeres, y la iglesia necesitaba ser diferente. Sin embargo, en ningún lugar del libro de 1ª Timoteo se menciona a Artemisa, ni Pablo menciona la práctica estándar de los adoradores de Artemisa como una razón para las restricciones en 1ª Timoteo 2:11-12.Una tercera objeción común es que Pablo solamente se está refiriendo a los esposos y las esposas, no a los hombres y a las mujeres en general. Las palabras en griego para "mujer" y "hombre" en 1ª Timoteo 2:11-14podrían referirse a esposos y esposas. Sin embargo, el significado básico de las palabras es más amplio que eso. Adicionalmente, las mismas palabras en griego son utilizadas en los versículos 8-10. ¿Solo los espososdeben orar en todo lugar, levantando manos santas, sin ira ni contienda (versículo 8)? ¿Solo las esposas deben vestirse con ropa decorosa, con pudor y modestia; tener buenas obras y adorar a Dios (versículos 9-10)? Por supuesto que no. Los versículos 8 al 10 claramente se refieren a los hombres y mujeres en general, no solamente a los esposos y a las esposas. No hay nada en el contexto que debiera indicar una limitación para esposas y esposos en los versículos 11 al 14.Sin embargo, otra objeción a esta interpretación de mujeres en el ministerio pastoral es en relación con Miriam, Débora, Hulda, mujeres que mantuvieron posiciones de liderazgo en el antiguo testamento. Es verdad que estas mujeres fueron escogidas por Dios para un servicio especial para Él y que ellas son modelos de fe, coraje y, sí, liderazgo. Sin embargo, la autoridad de las mujeres en el antiguo testamento no es relevante para el tema de los pastores en la iglesia. Las epístolas del nuevo testamento presentan un nuevo paradigma para el pueblo de Dios, la iglesia, el cuerpo de Cristo y, ese paradigma involucra una estructura de autoridad única para la iglesia, no para la nación de Israel o cualquier otra entidad del antiguo testamento.Argumentos similares se hacen usando a Priscila y Febe en el nuevo testamento. En el libro de los Hechos, el capítulo 18, Priscila y Aquila son presentados como ministros fieles de Cristo. El nombre de Priscila es mencionado primero, indicando probablemente que ella era más "prominente" en el ministerio que su esposo. ¿Enseñaron Priscila y su esposo el evangelio de Jesucristo a Apolos? Sí, en su casa "le expusieron más exactamente el camino de Dios" (Hechos 18:26). ¿Dice la Biblia alguna vez que Priscila pastoreó una iglesia, o enseñó públicamente o se convirtió en la líder espiritual de una congregación de santos? Sin embargo, en ninguna parte se describe a Priscila participando en una actividad de ministerio que esté en contradicción con 1ª Timoteo 2:11 al 14.En Romanos 16:1, a Febe se le considera una "diaconisa" (o "sierva") en la iglesia y es altamente elogiada por Pablo. Pero, como con Priscila, no hay nada en las Escrituras que indique que Febe fuera una pastora o maestra de hombres en la iglesia. "Apto para enseñar" es un calificativo dado para los ancianos, pero no para los diáconos (1ª Timoteo 3:1-13; Tito 1:6-9).La estructura de 1ª Timoteo 2:11 al 14 deja la razón perfectamente establecida. El versículo 13 comienza con "Porque" y da la "causa" de lo que Pablo declara en los versículos 11 y 12. ¿Por qué las mujeres no deberían enseñar o tener autoridad sobre los hombres? Porque "Adán fue formado primero, luego Eva. Y Adán no fue engañado; sino que la mujer, siendo engañada, incurrió en transgresión". Esa es la razón. Dios creó a Adán primero y luego creó a Eva a fin de que fuera "ayuda idónea" para Adán. Este orden de la creación tiene una aplicación universal para la humanidad en la familia (Efesios 5:22-23) y en la iglesia.El hecho de que Eva fuera engañada también se da en 1 Timoteo 2:14 como una razón para que las mujeres no sirvan como pastoras o tengan autoridad espiritual sobre los hombres. Esto no significa que las mujeres sean ingenuas o que sean engañadas más fácilmente. Si todas las mujeres son engañadas más fácilmente, ¿por qué se les permitiría enseñar a los niños (quienes son fácilmente engañados) y a otras mujeres (quienes supuestamente son engañadas más fácilmente)? El texto simplemente dice que las mujeres no deben enseñar o tener autoridad espiritual sobre los hombres porque Eva fue engañada. Dios ha dado a los hombres la autoridad de enseñanza principal en la iglesia.Muchas mujeres sobresalen en dones de hospitalidad, misericordia, enseñanza, evangelismo y ayuda. Gran parte del ministerio de la iglesia local depende de las mujeres. Las mujeres en la iglesia no están restringidas de orar o profetizar en público (1ª Corintios 11:5), solamente de tener autoridad en las enseñanzas espirituales sobre los hombres. La Biblia en ninguna parte restringe a las mujeres de ejercitar los dones del Espíritu Santo (1ª Corintios capítulo 12). Así como los hombres, las mujeres, están llamadas a ministrar a otros, a demostrar el fruto del Espíritu (Gálatas 5:22-23), y a proclamar el evangelio a los perdidos (Mateo 28:18-20; Hechos 1:8; 1ª Pedro 3:15).Dios ha ordenado que solamente los hombres sirvan en posiciones de autoridad de enseñanza espiritual en la iglesia. Esto no es necesariamente porque son mejores maestros, o porque las mujeres son inferiores o menos inteligentes (tal no es el caso). Es simplemente la manera en que Dios designó la iglesia para que funcione. Los hombres deben ser ejemplo en el liderazgo espiritual, en sus vidas y a través de sus palabras. Las mujeres deben asumir un papel menos autoritario. Se las anima a enseñar a otras mujeres (Tito 2:3-5). La Biblia tampoco restringe a las mujeres de enseñar a los niños. La única actividad de la que están restringidas es de enseñar o tener autoridad espiritual sobre los hombres. Esto impide que las mujeres sirvan como pastoras de hombres. De ninguna manera esto las hace menos importantes, más bien les da un ministerio enfocado más de acuerdo con el talento dado por Dios.

Te mando un abrazo y que Dios te sorprenda.

[cfijerusalem]

A NATIONAL REMEMBRANCE OF GOD

“When you come to the Land, you shall plant fruit trees” (Leviticus 19:23). “When, in making war against a town in order to capture it, you lay siege to it for a long time, you are not to destroy its trees, cutting them down with an axe. You can eat their fruit, so don’t cut them down... After all, are the trees in the field human beings, so that you have to besiege them too? However, if you know that certain trees provide no food, you may destroy them and cut them down.…” (Deuteronomy 20:19-20, CJB; Psalm 1:3, CJB).

January was the month for Tu B’Shvat, which is a Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the  Hebrew month of Shevat. It is also called “Rosh HaShanah La’Ilanot”, literally “New Year of the Trees.”  In contemporary Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration. (Wikipedia). People plant trees for their children and grandchildren. Tu B’Shvat has developed into an ecological holiday that reminds Jewish people of their connection to the earth and to their role as caretakers of the environment. On Tu B’Shvat Jewish people often eat fruits associated with the Holy Land, especially the ones mentioned in the Bible (Torah).

It is now February and the Land of Israel is beginning to bloom with the beautiful almond trees/fruit, which blossom early in the year. The Hebrew word for tree is “etz” and the almond tree reminds all who love Torah (the Jewish Scriptures) of the rods of Moses and Aaron that were given power during the time of the Ten Plagues of Egypt. Their rods were like those of the shepherds watching the flocks of Israel - a symbol of authority. I suppose it could be likened to the admonition in Proverbs 13:24 that if one spares the rod, they will spoil their child. The rod was also employed during the Exodus and the Korach rebellion against Moses. During this lovely day of Tu B’Shvat in Israel, one is encouraged to eat the fruits of the new season. About 30 kinds of fruit are growing at this time. We were pleasantly surprised on this holiday, when a friend stopped by to bring us some home-made chicken soup and Tu B’Shvat bread, made from the fruit of Israel’s trees. What a treat. And so gratitude is ensured here in the Land for the Creator, and His Creation, which gave us all of the fruit-bearing trees. What other nation on earth takes the time to thank God through a one-day remembrance of something great He has done? Only Israel. This is a taste of the Kingdom to come on earth, right here in Jerusalem. A time when not only the Prince of Peace will have ushered in true peace, when He speaks the Torah (the Law) and it goes forth, but a time to be grateful for the many things God has done for us. We will have an eternity to thank God for everything. It is such a joy to live in this Land.

TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER: LET US PRAY!

Since Tu B’Shvat is a time of thanking God – even though Israel is facing great danger from Iran – we must turn to the Holy Scriptures and rejoice with God, our Savior and Lord, that He has told us the end of the story. While we are in the middle of end time events all around us, we can laugh as the Proverbs 31 woman because she knew God would destroy Israel’s enemies in the end. Hannah rejoiced also because she knew what the Scrolls told her, that God was in control and would destroy the enemies of Israel. Therefore, in the midst of serious times, let us rejoice in God because it is HE that is carrying out His Word and His Promises for all the world to see He is GOD!!

Pray and thank God for the Prime Minister of Israel who has many burdens on his shoulders. The nation of Iran has said “The hour of Israel’s destruction draws Nigh” (Israel Today, January 22, 2019). “I have heard the insults of Moab and the taunts of the Ammonites, who insulted my people and made threats against their land” (Zephaniah 2:8, NIV).

Pray Fervently for the leadership of Israel to make every decision based upon how God is leading. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu boldly proclaims, “Bring It On” (Israel Today, January 22, 2019). He knows the Holy Scriptures and that the Protector of Israel has promised to keep Israel night and day: “He that keepeth Israel shall never slumber nor sleep. Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep” (Psalm 121:3,4, CSB).

Intercede for a latter day outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) in Israel. The prophet Joel has spelled out exactly what will take place in Israel in the end times. “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions”  (Joel 2:28, NIV). Let us always remember that along with God wanting to revive His People from the nations, He also wants to revive His Chosen People. What a glorious day that will be!

Thank God that He speaks through His Word to the world. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV).

Rejoice in God’s Word which never changes. Never diminish or take lightly what is called the “Old” Testament by Christianity. It is the Eternal Word of God that never changes.

Thank Him for His Plan for His Coming Kingdom on earth. “Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?” (Lamentations 3:37, NIV).

Be Joyous and Thankful that His Promises are all coming to pass, every jot and tittle. The rejoicing should be in our hearts that we need not fear sudden changes, destruction, nor end time plagues. Faith will take us through  the severest of circumstances and will make our faith even more rock solid in Him. The days ahead should only develop our faith and make it stronger. Hallelujah! “And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people” (Romans 15:10, ESV). Also Jeremiah 31:7.

As we all stand at our posts and “watch,” looking for His Coming, let us rejoice in the truth that faith believes God’s Promises for Israel, and for the Nations. Please pray for all the nations who are making decisions whether to stand with Israel and bring their embassies to Jerusalem, and for those who are stubborn and rebelling against God and His Chosen People. Pray for eyes to be opened, hearts to be changed, and for Israel’s coming redemption. We all play a part.

Watching for His Coming, Sharon Sanders Christian Friends of Israel - Jerusalem, email: prayer@cfijerusalem.org