Masturbation: A Christian Perspective

'Masturbation is nothing to be ashamed of. It's not something to be
particularly proud of, either.' (Matt Groening)

More... http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/4884.htm

(P.S. A note to those who've seen this post previously: I circulate it about
once a month to some Usenet groups where young people in particular have
questions about this subject and don't know where to turn for answers. Every
time it's posted 1,000+ visit the article to read it. So, you regular Usenet
inhabitants, you don't need to get excited about this repetition - for
whatever reason :-)!!!

--

Shalom! Rowland Croucher

It is the test of a good religion whether you can joke about it (G K
Chesterton)

http://jmm.aaa.net.au/ - 18,700 articles/ 4000 humour

The New Year as a Marker

Human beings use many things as markers in their lives. I guess I should
say, "in our lives," since I am also a human being.

We use birthdays, summer vacations, harvest seasons, Christmases, and the
really big one: New Year's day. Such markers give us an opportunity to both
reflect on the past and plan, postulate or predict the future. We may even
set resolutions for ourselves, such as the breaking of old habits or the
establishing of new ones.

It is an ancient practice, rooted deeply in the past of just about every
culture and people. The Bible records quite a few annual markers in the
feasts and other national observances established for the people Israel by
God through His servant Moses. The great feasts and sacrifices were times
to gather and reflect and mark progress or failure.

Progress and failure is a part of every human life. We are all of us often
made aware of the areas in which we are maturing and growing, and the areas
where we seem to be making no progress at all. Each person is different,
when it comes to success and failure, in that we each have a different set
of strengths and weaknesses. None of us are perfectly strong in all the
areas of our lives. And no one is a failure at everything.

A Student's Eye View ...

We took cameras and tape recorders to high school and college campuses around
North America. We asked some randomly selected students what they think about the
relative value and importance of human beings as compared to animals. Let's see how
they responded:

"I don't know if humans are more important than animals. Part of the reason I am in
college is to figure out these types of things."

"Well, I think people are just as valuable as animals. I think it is a combined thing. We
are all alive. We are all living creatures. We all deserve the same."

"By far people are way more important than animals. I mean, I consider myself to be a
little bit right-wing, conservative, and all these save-the-animals people, well,
personally they annoy me."

"I don't think people are any more important than animals. Every living thing has a
right to be heard, and we are not to say whether we are more important than just a
dog or cat."

"People are more important than animals. Mainly just because animals can't speak for
themselves."

The Church vs. The World.

"Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you." -1 JOHN 3:13

Why do evangelicals try so desperately to court the world's favor? Churches plan their
worship services to cater to the "unchurched." Christian performers ape every worldly fad in
music and entertainment. Preachers are terrified that the offense of the gospel might turn
someone against them; so they deliberately omit the parts of the message the world might not
like.

Evangelicalism seems to have been hijacked by legions of carnal spin-doctors, who are trying
their best to convince the world that the church can be just as inclusive, pluralistic, and broad-
minded as the most politically-correct worldling.

The quest for the world's approval is nothing less than spiritual harlotry. In fact, that is
precisely the imagery the apostle James used to describe it. He wrote, "Adulterers and
adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever
therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4).

There is and always has been a fundamental, irreconcilable incompatibility between the church
and the world. Christian thought is out of harmony with all the world's philosophies. Genuine
faith in Christ entails a denial of every worldly value. Biblical truth contradicts all the world's
religions. Christianity itself is therefore antithetical to virtually everything this world admires.

When Christ Comes ...

You are in your car driving home. Thoughts wander to the game you
want to see or meal you want to eat, when suddenly a sound unlike
any you've ever heard fills the air. The sound is high above you.
A trumpet? A choir? A choir of trumpets? You don't know,
but you want to know. So you pull over, get out of your car,
and look up. As you do, you see you aren't the only curious one.
The roadside has become a parking lot. Car doors are open, and
people are staring at the sky. Shoppers are racing out of the
grocery store. The Little League baseball game across the street
has come to a halt. Players and parents are searching the clouds.

And what they see, and what you see, has never before been seen.

Isn't that Just Your Interpretation?

Atheist: Okay, I went back and read this entire book just like you asked, but I
don't think you've made the case that Christianity is true.
Christian: Why not?
Atheist: Because it's just your...

If God, Why Evil?

Atheist: If there really is an all-good, all-powerful, theistic God, then why does he allow evil?
Christian: How do you know what evil is unless you know what good is? And how do you...

Charts of Church History

For viewing only.

http://bibleweb.info/public-charts-of-church-history.pdf

For a limited time, this series is:
Available in the Guest Area. ===> http://Bibleweb.Info/

All Blessings,
===========================================
My Christian Bible Study Collection
Small Group Bible Studies - http://Bibleweb.Info/
Published Material - http://lulu.com/bibleweb/
Members Area
http://Bibleweb.Info/Bibleweb.Info-Members-Sample-Set.pdf
===========================================

What Is Truth?

http://bibleweb.info/Bibleweb.Info-What-Is-Truth.pdf

How do we know what is really true?
How do we know that the Bible is true?
How sure can we be?

We live in a skeptical environment, where even the very existence
of truth is questioned. Lately, the Bible - and even the Lord Jesus
Himself - has been under attack.

Join us as we examine the boundaries of our reality,
explore ways to qualify sources of information, and offer
advice on testing hypothesis, and reveals the source
of Ultimate Truth.

For a limited time, this series is:
Available in the Member's Area. ===> http://Bibleweb.Info/

Imagine A World Without Israel

http://bibleweb.info/SP07_02_Farah.mp3