Pastors Paved with Gold

Filthy rich pastors don't actually help. They just tell them God's going to bless ya real big for giving.

True Beliefs vs. Necessary Beliefs

The picture becomes more complex when one takes into account the fact that there wasn't one masoretic text, but many. Furthermore, as far back as the Babylonian period when the Talmud was edited there was awareness of gross errors in the Torah text regarding spelling and orthographic notation. As Shapiro suggests, there were halachic discussions on what happens if the Torah text differs with that of that quoted in the Talmud, or a discrepancy between texts quoted in Talmud and that of the masoretic text.

Plain Bible Truth: Does God Allow Suffering?

Many Christian's ask the question, why does God allow suffering? The answer to this question has eluded mankind since the beginning of time. Well, I'm here to tell you that I have found the truth, and it has set me FREE! And it can set you free as well.

Run, Walk, Stand

Waiting is not idly setting around. No, waiting is an active verb, like a waiter or waitress waiting on tables. It also means to remain in a constant state of readiness, confident in your expectation. Waiting is also the working out of hope. Or you might say it like this , waiting is the working out of our expectation, confident in our hope unto the end. We should all have this confident expectancy in our walk with the Lord...

Complacency in the Church, Why Do We Have It?

Complacency or the lack of a sense of urgency in a church is one of the main hindrances to change and progress. This is of course not only true with churches but also the case in businesses. We are referred to in Revelation as the Laodicea church, lukewarm, neither hot or cold. Christ says that he is about to spit us out. He wished that we were either hot or cold, but because we are only lukewarm he will spit us out. This is a very strong statement and is very true, so why are we so complacent?

Tefilin Wrap

How is it, that the level of tolerance is obvious among the Sephardim, but visibly absent among the Ashkenazim? It goes back to the fact that Sephardim feel more comfortable in their skin because it is their only skin, while for Ashkenazim it is their second skin. As a result they are less comfortable and less tolerant. Perhaps the difference in the way the two edot (communities) wrap tefilin (phylacteries) is telling. Sephardim tend to wrap their tefilin around their arm outwardly while Ashkenazim wrap them inwardly. Would this in some way symbolize the difference between the two cultures?

M.M. Schneerson: Messiah or Member of the Ibbur Class

It is a fantastic story and utterly believable-- if you believe in a personal Messiah as elaborated on by the Rambam (Maimonides) and others. What amazes me is the same people who cast doubt on the claims of the mishichistim (messianics) believe in the myth of a personal messiah. If you believe in a personal moshiach (messiah), then there is not much of a leap of faith to believe in M.M. Shneerson as the moshiach incarnate. Why not? They are both rooted in faith.

A New View of a 12-Step Process

I recently sat down and looked at each of the 12 Steps of AA and tried to feel the essence of what each step is saying and calling for. There is an underlying theme for each step that I've felt inspired by whenever I read them, or talk about the steps with a client. Something about them has always struck me deeply, and did again when I was meditating on them. Here's how I've re-written the 12 steps:

Akashic Records

Is there a holographic image of your life in the universe? Can we access images of our past life?

Serve Yourself

Thoughts, pertaining to our service to God, or a lack thereof.

Keeping Our Language Real Follows The Example Of Jesus

Have you ever sat next to a computer wizard who speaks excitedly about what they are working on? You know the words are in English yet you cannot follow the conversation at all because of all the technical jargon? That is how most of the unchurched feel around Christians. Our description of who God is and how He speaks to us can be an incredible barrier to those who desire to speak a spiritual language yet cannot decipher our technical, religious jargon.

Apostles - Legendary Heroes Or Real Men?

You remember those hand-picked lieutenants of Jesus - the apostles? Jesus chose them to carry on his mission. So how would you expect these men to be portrayed in the Gospel narratives? as legendary heroes? as sanitized characters? or as real men? You may be surprised. Let's check it out!

Native Americans Are Renewing Their Traditions - Here Is One Way

One way that Native groups have attempted to renew and retain their traditions have been through ceremonies. In the past, ceremonies have been an important part of Native American tradition and in the twentieth century the natives have tried to revive these ritualistic actions.