Catastrophic Events of Life

During one’s life time there are many events that alter or change one’s way of living. Not every day decisions (which are many) but life changing events that might be categorized as catastrophic. These might include a very serious accident, getting mugged, getting robbed, losing a pet, losing a loved one, a serious life threatening sickness, a heart attack, a stroke,  cancer. All of these and many more could be, would be catastrophic in one’s life. But no one experiences every one of them and some experience none of them.  Physiologists have said that in a normal person’s life there are 4 catastrophic events that almost everyone experiences. Let’s take a look at them.

The first is Birth.

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Life begins at conception and for the next 9 months the baby in a warm secure place, with all of its need’s being meet. Research has shown that a baby in the womb experiences sound, movement, in fact, probably 3 of the five senses; Touch, hearing and tasting. And depending on the surroundings LOVE by a mother (and father) who truly want their child. Then this baby is thrust from this very secure place into the world Naked and helpless and two more senses are added to the baby’s world: light (sight) and smell. What a catastrophic moment, life will never be the same.

The second is graduation. 

Graduation from (or completion of) school (High School). All of your life has been under the control of someone else. First your parent(s), they provided food, shelter, clothing and they expected you to obey them, do their bidding. Second your teachers for at least 12 years (sometimes longer) you have had a teacher directing your life, assigning you work, projects, homework and testing you along the way. Always demanding more, always expecting more always setting the bar a little higher. You have made friends along the way some best friends forever (BFF). But that is ending, for some it’s off to college, others it’s the military, and others into the work force. Again thrust out into the world. Now you are responsible for yourself. What a catastrophic moment, life will never be the same.

The third is Marriage

This is the only one of the 4 major events (catastrophic events) that you have a choice. Birth, not your choice, Graduation had to come to that conclusion if you stayed in school for the required number of years.  Now you have met someone, someone who will mean more to you than your parents and you have a choice to make. Do I continue my life as it is or do I chose to share it with someone else? Living together is not marriage and does not have the same obligations that you take on when you marry. Living together (or shacking up) has very little commitment, after all when you tire of it you can just leave. Sickness, Health, Richer, Poorer, Better, Worse, you hit one of these roadblocks you can just pack up and move on. But and if you chose marriage, WOW! What a commitment!  Be sure to read those vows you make before your family, your friends, your chosen one, the minister, and GOD. After the “I DO’s” you are responsible for and to a stranger. What a catastrophic moment, life will never be the same.

The forth is Death.

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To review, BIRTH was out of your control, this was brought about by your parents, you just had to experience it. GRADUATION was just a course of fulfilling events that came to a conclusion (which altered your life), again which you had little control. You can be prepared or not, the choice is partly yours to make.  MARRIAGE, you could choose to avoid it or chose to enter into it, Not only if but when and to whom.  And it is up to you (and your partner) to make it work. But DEATH, all of us face it. It’s been said there are two things unavoidable in life, Death and Taxes. Well, you can avoid taxes, but not death. As the scripture says”And as it is appointed unto men once to die … “(Hebrews 9:27). Again “For the wages of sin is death...” (Romans 6:23). Yes, all of us face death. Separation of the soul (life) from the body, now we all know what happens to the body. It is buried or cremated. But the soul (life), what about it? Does it cease to exist? There are many who would hope that is true. Does it reincarnate? Again many would hope that to be true. But the Scripture teach that you will be removed from the world you know and thrust into eternity, a world nobody knows about outside of the Scriptures.

Four life altering events, catastrophic events that most all of us will face. BIRTH, out of your control. GRADUATION, very little control. MARRIAGE, your choice, definitely a choice. Not only if but when and to whom. Still it is a life changing action. The forth, DEATH, is appointed unto you. You do face death. It will happen to you. But you can prepare for it.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die … “(Hebrews 9:27). The answers lay in the scriptures; “death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of is eternal life …” (Romans 6:23).

Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures;  
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  (Romans 10:9-13)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.     (Ephesians 2:8-10)

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Fool

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(fool’s, foolish)     a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person.

Found 189 times in the KJV Bible
Old Testament (147)
Genesis (1)   31:28 Numbers (1)  12:11 Deuteronomy (2)  32:6, 32:21
1 Samuel
(2)  13:13, 26:21 2 Samuel (4)  3:33, 13:13,15, 24:10
1 Chronicles
(1)   21:8 2 Chronicles (1)   16:9
Job (6)  1:22, 2:10, 5:2,3 12:17, 30:8
Psalm (15)  5:5, 14:1, 38:5, 39:8, 49:10, 53:1, 69:5, 73:3,22, 74:18,22, 75:4, 92:6, 94:8, 107:17
Key verses  14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
                     53:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
Proverbs (78)  1:7,22,32, 3:35, 7:22, 8:5, 9:6,13, 10:1,8,10,14,18,21,23, 11:29, 12:15,16,3, 13:16,19,20, 14:1,3,7,8,9,16,17,24,33, 15:2,5,7,14,20, 16:22, 17:7,10,12,16,21,24,25,28, 18:2, 6:7,19:1,3,10,13,29, 20:3, 21:20, 22:15, 23:9, 24:7,9, 26:1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12, 27:3,22, 28:26 29:9,11,20, 30:22,32
Ecclesiastes (23)  2:14,15,16,19, 4:5,13, 5:1,3,4, 6:8, 7:4,5,6,9,17,25, 9:17, 10:2,3,12,13,14,15
Key verse  2:14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness:
Isaiah (4)  19:11,13, 35:8, 44:25 Jeremiah (5) 4:22, 5:4,21, 10:8
Lamentations
(1)  2:14 Ezekiel (1)  13:3 Hosea (1)  9:7
Zechariah
(1)  11:15
Many of the verses found in the Old Testament refer to the ACTIONS of man. FOOLISH.

New Testament (42)
Matthew (7)  5:22, 7:26, 23:17, 23:19, 25:2,3,8
        Key VS 5:22 (…Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.)
Mark (1)  7:22
Luke (3)  11:40, 12:20, 24:25
    Key vs 12:20 (But God said unto him, Thou fool, …)
         Most of the above are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ

Romans (4) 1:21,22 2:20 
     Key vs 1:22 (Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,)
1 Corinthians (11)  1:18,20,21,23,25,27, 2:14, 3:18,19, 4:20, 15:36 
2 Corinthians
(7)  11:16.17,19,21,23, 12:6,11   

Paul writes:  We are fools for Christ’s sake, 
Galatians (2)  3:1,3 Ephesians (2)  5:4,15
1 Timothy
(1)  6:9 2 Timothy (1)  2:23
Titus
(2)  3:3,9 1 Peter (1)  2:15

As the above verses are studied we see the man apart from God acts as a FOOL!  And foolishly says THERE IS NO GOD.

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Personal Standards for Music

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My musical stand as a Christian is not something that I base on feelings, family traditions, or popularity. It is definitely not something I trust my own thoughts on. Everything that I believe about music I have studied and prayed about. I am aware that my musical standards will effect my family, my ministry, and my influence over other Christians. With God as my judge I make every attempt to state my standards in a way that will always be pleasing to Him
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:19-21
The standards of the world’s music today are worse then ever before in human history. More people worldwide will listen to any genre of music without thinking or caring about if it has an affect on them. In the early 1900s one would be hard pressed to find an individual who did not know a hymn book through, but in today’s society, most people have never heard a hymn sung in their life. Though society’s musical standards have changed immensely, music itself has not. The beats and lyrics may differ, but the underlying affect and evil of the world’s music has not changed. King Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes that there is nothing new under the sun.
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which is done: and there is no new thing under the sun.Ecclesiastes 1:9
Music has always been the devil’s instrument. Before Satan was cast out of Heaven, it is very likely that he was in charge of the music. Since the Bible tells us that the angels constantly praise and worship God, it may also be possible that Satan led them in song worship. Whatever his specific duty, it is certain that Satan knows how to use music.

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Peace on Earth

Our leaders keep trying to accomplish PEACE ON EARTH. At Christmas time we display “PEACE ON EARTH” on cards, signs and every place we can think of. But what does God’s word say about PEACE ON EARTH?
Paul writes: 1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. Romans 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Jesus said: Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
But wait, at the birth of Christ didn’t the angels announce PEACE ON EARTH?

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
ON EARTH PEACE —- (Because the Prince of Peace had come that night)

What else does the Bible have to say about peace

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Hope

English
Noun – a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
Verb – want something to happen or be the case.
Greek
Noun – elpís (from elpō, “to anticipate, welcome”) – properly, expectation of what is sure (certain); hope.
Verb – elpizo to trust

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The Apostle Paul wrote to believers much about our Hope. He used the word 39 times in his epistles:
To the believers in Rome he referred to our HOPE 13 times:
Romans 4:18 5:2 5:4-5 8:20 8:24-25 12:12 15:4 15:13
To the weak believers in the Corinthian Church Paul wrote to them about the believer’s HOPE (8 times):
1 Corinthians 9:10 13:13 15:19 2 Corinthians 1:7 3:12 10:15
And to the church in Galatian (who were wanting to bring the Law into Grace, Paul again used HOPE:
Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
To the faithful in Ephesus he reminded them of what hope is.
Ephesians 1:18 2:12 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
To Philippi Believers he spoke of His Hope.
Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, …
Hope of Heaven, of the Gospel, in Glory was his message to the Colossians:
Colossians 1:5 1:23 1:27
Having only spent a brief time with the believer’s in Thessalonica he taught them a lot and reestablished their belief with the Hope in our Lord Jesus:
1 Thessalonians 1:3 2:19 4:13 5:8 2 Thessalonians 2:16
As Paul prepared to depart this life he wrote to his “Preacher Boys” of hope:
1 Timothy 1:1 Titus 1:2 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, 3:7
To believing Hebrews (Jews) he wanted to establish their hope:
Hebrews 3:6 6:11 6:18-19 7:19
Peter writing to believing Jews scattered abroad (1:1) spoke of this hope:
1 Peter 1:3 1:13 1:21 3:15
And the Apostle John reminds us, every man can have this hope:
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

HOPE IS NOT A WISH FOR: IT’S AN I KNOW SO!

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Comfort

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Read the story in John 11:1-31 How the Lord Jesus gave comfort to Mary and Martha on the death of their brother, Lazarus.

There are times when we all need to be comforted. And before the Lord departed this earth (through his death, burial and resurrection) he said this about being comforted:

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

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Naked and (UN)Ashamed

Should we walk around naked? Should we all become nudist? Is there anything wrong with being naked or a nudist? If we believe the Bible is God’s Word (The word of GOD) then we should see what it has to say. Let’s begin in Genesis: (did not God create man naked?)
Genesis 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Naked and Unashamed, that’s the way mankind began. But what happened?


Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
How did Adam answer God:
Genesis 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
What else does the scripture have to say about being Naked?
Genesis 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
There are many more Old Testament references to being Naked, none good: Exodus 32:25, 1 Samuel 19:24, 2 Chronicles 28:15,19 Job 1:21,22:6-7,10, 26:6
Ecclesiastes 5:15, Isaiah 20:2-4, 58:7 Lamentations 4:21, Ezekiel 16:7,22,39
Ezekiel 18:7,16, 23:29, Hosea 2:3, Amos 2:16, Micah 1:8,11, Habakkuk 3:9
Again in the New Testament, being Naked is not looked on as good:
Matthew 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me:
Matthew 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, …
Matthew 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye
Matthew 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did …
The above is a parable, teaching about a time to come, Tribulation.
Other NT references about being naked:
Mark 14:51-52, John 21:7, Acts 19:16, 1 Corinthians 4:11, 2 Corinthians 5:3,
Hebrews 4:13, James 2:15, Revelation 16:15, 17:16,
It would appear that the scripture has a lot to say about being naked, and even though we enter into the world naked and shall depart from it naked (without any world values), God would prefer us to be clothed as we walk this world and WILL provide robes of righteousness for us when we join Him for all eternity.
Revelation 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.


Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Revelation 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

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