Passion Week Archaeology

I thought this was an awesome video to celebrate the resurrection:

Passion Week Archaeology from SourceFlix.com on Vimeo.

About Cris Putnam
Logos Apologia is the ministry of Cris D. Putnam. The mission of Logos Apologia is to show that logic, science, history and faith are complementary, not contradictory and to bring that life-changing truth to everybody who wants to know.

Comments

  1. BT says:

    I wonder if Christians who know the pagan origins of Easter can justify going through the motions, as custom would have them do?

    • hopeful_watcher says:

      Should modern day Americans feel guilty wearing cotton clothing given its origin as a crop made successful through slave labor. I don’t believe so. Things of the past don’t always hold the same weight for things of today.

      Likewise, I can focus on the worship and celebration of Jesus’s resurrection and diminish the pagan roots. It’s one reason I like to think of it as resurrection day and not Easter. I suppose you would consider this as a ‘yes’ to your justification question.

      Bottomline is this. Satan is a bastard! He had perverted and tainted just about every custom and holiday out there. But don’t think for a minute that Jesus is anyway adversely affected by these childish endevours to corrupt our actions. It’s why He gives us the spirit to change our hearts. Remember the parable of the cup where we are clean on the inside and filthy on the outside.

      So I say, celebrate Jesus’s birth, resurrection and whole life with a loving heart and leave the hand ringing to its pagan roots to those who wish to be ensnared by Legalism, because if you go down that road we are evil for worshiping on Sunday and not Saturday.

      • Cheryl says:

        Many of your words ring true. Knowing the truth, we, as a family, have chosen to do without the chocolate bunnies and eggs, religious rituals and such and just focus on the sacrifice of the cross and the miracle of the resurrection. I used to think I had to educate the masses but, in all honesty, some will hear but most will not. Their traditions have been with them from birth and celebrated by many generations within their families well before then. Even most within the born again church will not accept sound doctrine in many everyday things, how much more so in family traditions. So, we try to operate in love and in truth without lashing out and hurting those we love. Wished my 90+ year old grandmother a “Happy Resurrection Day” last year to which she replied, “I don’t know what you are saying?” A feeble mind isn’t going to understand so to try to force a new concept on a woman who only equates “Easter” with the true Jesus would not be fruitful. She is not worshiping Ishtar, she only sees Jesus so why cause her mental and emotional anguish? Let’s be realistic, we’ve all been duped by a complex system of lies. If we can sort through the lies, ourselves, and educate others, in love, then we’re good. In the end, it is truly all about love as that is Jesus’ greatest command. So, as we celebrate the resurrection of our precious Lord and Savior, King Jesus, let’s focus on the love!

      • Jay Sprueill says:

        I dont have any special day to give thanks, I worship CHRIST everyday, HE shed HIS blood for everyon who will BELIEVE. HE’S coming to take us home SOON.

        • hopeful_watcher says:

          Amen!! I agree. I mostly celebrate the specific day because we get together as a family. What better opportunity to share the true gospel to those you love who are lukewarm? If it weren’t for tradition, some might never consider Christ.

      • BT says:

        Well Hopeful, which day is the Sabbath?

        My point is, I would rather follow what God seems to be saying rather than what I want to think about a situation.

        People justify Christmas traditions the same way, by saying “Well, I’m making it about Christ. Who cares if the trees and wreaths and the date all have pagan traditions, I will think how I want to about them.”

        To me that just sounds a little too cozy with the world, is all.

        People will do whatever they want to. I’m not judging anyone, that is for God alone.
        Maybe God winks at us following traditions of men, as long as “our heart is in the right place”. However, if our heart really was “in the right place”, wouldn’t we rather to obey God down to the tiniest detail, as much as it were possible for us to do so, rather than to go along with the world?

        For me, this doesn’t look like a good time to be riding the fence. That’s what I’m saying.

        • hopeful_watcher says:

          Saturday, the seventh day of the week, is the Sabbath. With the new covenant, we are no longer under the condemnation of the law.

          Our salvation is based on this new covenant, love the Lord your God and love your neighbor. This will make us righteous before God, because Jesus exponges the guilt of our sin.

          Here is what I have learned overtime. If you feel convicted about not celebrating certain holidays because of certain paigan roots, then you must not do it. If you feel like these celebrations bring you closer to God, then you are compelled to do it. Each to their own beliefs which are all subordinate to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

          Here is a video that explains the covenants and not being held to the letter of the law any longer. This video address all the old covenant laws with particular attention to the Sabbath. Chris White rocks!!
          “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HpPEdNOyK0&feature=youtube_gdata_player”

          • BT says:

            It’s my understanding that it was is Law that tells us what sin is. Has God changed His definitions?
            Why would we assume now His commandments to be void?
            Does the Bible not tell us to “Go and sin no more?”
            Breaking the Commandments is an indication of sin, is it not?

            I don’t buy into the law being done away with. It may not be the way to salvation, as that is only through Christ,
            but it is Christ in us that gives us the will to do as God would have us to do.

            That’s how I see it. I’ll pass on the video you offered, but thanks anyway.

          • BT says:

            I would offer up this video in rebuttal.

            “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i38YiCUW6Iw”
            Saturday vs. Sunday

            Maybe anyone on the fence with this issue should watch them both and pray about it?

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            If you pass on the video then you won’t understand that it is spelled out in scripture very very strongly that we are no longer under the condemnation of the law, but we are under the spirits guidance. If that sounds to good to be true then so be it. This doesn’t mean we are free to sin. Far from it! But the spirit will guide us to what is sin and what is righteous.

            This was done for a reason. The phariseas perverted the law to persecute people. Just look at Christ. They crucified Him for it. The spirit is with us now to convict our hearts, so that no man can now hold law over our head and condemn us.

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            I tell you what, I’ll promise to watch the video you posted if you watch the one I posted.

            If we are sincere about our search for the truth, then this should be easy for us to challenge ourselves and appeal to each other.

          • BT says:

            The video I posted deals with some of the points you raise, Hopeful, in a very clear and Biblcial way.
            I really would love for you to watch it though. But why would I want to go back to what I used to believe?

            I would be leery of anything that tries to tell me that a desire to be obedient is just being “legalistic”

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            The video you posted has less to do with the defense of the Sabbath and more to do with the arrogance of the Catholic church to have the “audacity” to change the day to Sunday.

            All the quotes given are from 17th and 18th century from an authoritative Catholic point of view.

            However, the video I posted talks about the act of worshipping on Sunday predating even the edict given by Constatine of Rome. The Catholic church can try and take credit for it all they want but it goes all the way back to the book of acts.

          • BT says:

            Just for the record…

            “Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change (Saturday Sabbath to Sunday) was her act… And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things.” H.F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons. Nov. 11, 1895

            “Sunday is our mark of authority. . .the church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact” Catholic Record of London, Ontario Sept 1,1923.

            So, if the Catholic church has already downplayed the day of the Sabbath itself, what is to say there isn’t a conspiracy also to influence people not to observe the Sabbath in any meaningful way at all and in effect nullify this commandment?

            “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy….”

          • BT says:

            Well, I can tell right off Hopeful that you didn’t watch the video. It is about an hour in length. all four parts.

            That’s fine with me. I don’t want to argue the point.
            .I just put my opinion out there
            People can take it or leave it.

            But yes, the Catholic church was and is arrogant still.
            And Satan will do all he can to dilute the truth of God, so we must not be too quick to settle for having our ears tickled by feel-good doctrines, about the Sabbath or anything else.

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            Let me make one thing perfectly clear. My desire is not to change your mind back away from Legalism, nor do I judge you for it. Keep the Sabbath worship on Saturday if you wish. I think that is great as your heart feels full with the obedience you are giving to God.

            My whole point is that it won’t make us righteous before God nor will worshipping on Sunday make us unrighteous. It’s about the faith.

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            I didn’t say I was finished watching the videos, I am still watching. Which is more than I am sure you will do.

            And in case you think I am heckling you, just remember you started this thread with a tone of condemnation.

          • BT says:

            Do you say I was condemning Christians who observe pagan traditions?
            I never said I condemned anyone.
            I merely raised the subject of justifying one’s actions based on tradition.

            It’s really very common.

            I wasn’t condemning anyone, Hopeful.
            Who am I to judge anyone?

            Are you “judging” me based on my “tone”?

          • Cris Putnam says:

            It is a matter of intent, Christians are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus and most are completely oblivious to pagan connotations of Easter. They do not believe in Ishtar nor are they even aware of Ishtar rituals. Thus, they are not actually participating in paganism because of a cultural convention leftover from centuries of Catholicism, the intent nor belief is there.

            K House has an excellent article with some suggestions on how to handle this: http://www.khouse.org/enews_article/2012/1912/print/

            Paul taught us” “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.”(Col 2:16) As to Sunday worship there are strong arguments that the early church adopted it because the OT law is complete and to celebrate the resurrection. Acts records they met on the first day of the week which is Sunday: “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.” (Ac 20:7)

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            You gotta be kidding me right? You can honestly say that first comment was without condemnation?

            The implication was that true sincere Christians would not celebrate Easter because its pagan. I can only assume you do not celebrate Easter for this exact reason.

          • owl says:

            I usually never get into the debate of the sabbath day because it is my belief and certainly a safer bet that we should keep every day holy rather than just one day of the week. On top of it sunday relates to the sun and saturday to saturn but consider the following. Since God created the world in 6 days and on the 7th he rested and a day to God is like a thousand years to us, then it is reasonable to conclude that the 7th day being the true sabbath represents the final thousand year period which shall be truly holy. This we are to remember dead or alive.

            I may be wrong and do not want to spread falsities but it may be worthwhile to consider.

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            That is an interesting thought, owl.

            I tend not to get too worked up about the specific day, since the point being we are supposed to take time out to honor God.

            Jesus said himself that the Sabbath was made for man and not for God. If its not made for God than why would He consider it an abomination?

            As a matter of fact the Sabbath law was part of the phariseas reasoning to crucify Jesus. Which gets to the whole reasoning why God gave us a new covenant in the first place. It was to supercede those in authority from using the law to condemn and then persecute by using the law. He tore the vale. He usurped their religious authority. He gave us a direct line through the holy spirit to convict our hearts of sinful ways.

        • BT says:

          Here is that comment, again:

          “I wonder if Christians who know the pagan origins of Easter can justify going through the motions, as custom would have them do?”

          I said what I said. You are the one reading things into it, Hopeful.

          If anything, I said it the way I did to encourage people to question whether following tradition is more important that shunning pagan practices, even if they have been given the veneer of Christianity.

          • BT says:

            And I wouldn’t have raised the subject of the Sabbath if you hadn’t mentioned it first, Hopeful.

            I was not saying that anyone is more “righteous” for keeping the Sabbath than not. Only God knows the heart. I do get nervous though whenever God’s commandments are downplayed, because it reminds me of Satan in the garden of Eden…Gen. 1:3

            “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say,…?”‘

          • BT says:

            Oops! Genesis 3:1!

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            BT, I hear you there. Satan is a crafty one!

            I don’t downplay the commandments. I up-play (is that even a word) the spirit. Because, Satan being the crafty one that he is utilized those very same laws in the phariseas’ hearts to “justify” the crucification of Jesus.

            Jesus humbled Himself under the authority of God’s holy laws (as they were being enforced on earth) and they killed Him for it. You see an unrighteous person condemned under the law should have been damned. But He was not. He was raised from the dead and He conquered it so that a new covenant could be put in its place that superceded the law with two new umbrella commandments. To love the Lord your God and to love your neighbor. I defy anyone to try and condemn you using these two new laws. They can’t. We condemn ourselves when we don’t do them.

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            Incidently, if you love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul then you will be following the first four commandments and if you love your neighbor as yourself you follow the last six.

            How cool is that? 🙂

          • BT says:

            Exactly!

            …”you will be following the first four commandments and if you love your neighbor as yourself you follow the last six.”

            “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
            ~Matthew 22:40

            I still don’t read that to say the Commandments were done away with.

            However, I have dear friends who I feel are more scholarly that myself, who I dare say are more “righteous” even, and they do not see the need to keep the Sabbath.

            I do though, but even my best efforts are “as filthy rags”.

            The Pharisees make keeping the Sabbath a “grievous” thing with additional burdens, but that is not what was intended by God.

            If I was keeping it as the Pharisees would dictate, I might not even be allowed to brush my teeth or drive a car in this day and age.

            Please, if you haven’t heard the other side of the “argument” for keeping the Sabbath. I urge all to listen to that video I linked to earlier. I am unable to refute it, and am convinced there is indeed a very strong case for keeping them, brought to light by this teaching.

            ~Peace~

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            I would think someone who studies and knows,the dangers of the Talmud, that you would be encouraged that our salvation is within your control through faith and not in some external overbearing force that condemns your works. Keeping the Sabbath and festival days is a “work” and that is hard to rectify given we are told over and over, not by works but by faith alone.

            I hope I didn’t step on your toes today. I still consider you a brother in the search for truth. Keep on keeping the Sabbath and keep you conviction about being uncomfortable with pagan rituals. I say again, that is a good thing cuz it brings you closer to God and that is the ultimate goal. I’ll keep doing the things that bring me closer to God.
            Peace and blessings to you this season of the holy resurrection.

          • BT says:

            No offense taken, Hopeful.

            Honestly, I was suspicious of the matter of keeping the law, until I heard it explained as I have in that video, and elsewhere. Salvation still comes down to faith, but as we know, too, faith “without works” is dead, so by our deeds our faith will be known.

            I know that can exhibit itself in many different ways, and none of us have reached the finish line just yet, so there is still time to keep learning and growing in what being a Christian means.

            We gotta share what we think and see because we never know if it might be useful in the big scheme of things, right?

            Blessings to you, too, now and always.~

          • BT says:

            One last thing, Hopeful.

            What else could these commandments mean, if not the ten commandments?

            “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”~Rev.12:17

            So, it’s not just the testimony of Jesus, but the Commandments also.

            That’s how I read it anyway.

          • Dee says:

            BT, one of the Scriptures that I have meditated on for a while is this one. Matthew 5:20
            “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

            After being raised in the RCC and after years of going from one denomination to the next (and studying all their doctrines) I came to the conclusion that all ‘churches” RCC, Orthodox and Protestant in all its forms were all just mini RCCs. There has to be a real church of Jesus. And it has to be one that is nothing like the RCC. So if a Protestant church is ‘somewhat’ like a RCC, its still RCC in nature and doctrine and too, should be avoided. So what is the answer? It came to me personally by the Holy Spirit and the Word of GOD. “Come out of her My people and touch no unclean thing.”

            The leaven of the Pharasees (rather the Babylonian mystery religions, posing as ‘christian’) is almost complete! In ‘christianity’ one can hardly turn to the left or the right without running into some form of Babylonian mystery “RELIGION”.

            Those who have come out of the institutional false church system and have gone into the wilderness of ‘just you and Jesus’, have come to and continue to come to the conclusion that obedience is love and true love tells the truth! GOD’s Word is Truth and His Logos, became Flesh and we see through Jesus’s example, what true love is in the ‘acts’ of obedience. Jesus set us free and we are free to obey Him and we can through His grace. Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Matt 5:17 He is the fulfillment of the law. He ‘completes’ it. And thank GOD Jesus does! Being 100% GOD and 100% flesh and yet having the GOD head in Him to say ‘not my will but Yours be done’, with out Jesus we would have no hope.

            Is that it? Surely not! Our love should be so strong for Him that after all Jesus did for us and continues to do for us, it should be our hearts desire to want to please Him!

            The Pharasees had only outward ‘doings’ so as to ‘look’ righteous. Not unlike most christians today who go to church every sunday and the plethora of other man made rules. That is religion and religious.

            GOD seeks a heart after Him. One that is broken and contrite. One that does as the Son did, and says, ‘not my will Father, but Yours’. Well what is His will? He points it out clearly in the Scriptures. Now we either accept Truth or we argue with it or about it.

            The commandments show us: do not murder (but deeper, do not hate your brother in your heart/mind)
            We are not to do these things in our flesh, but we are also not do do them in the secret place that He sees, our hearts/minds.

            BT your Scripture ref was excellent and so true.

          • Dee says:

            Religion is all about law and rules and Man ipulations. Relationship with Jesus is about love and truth and wanting to please Him. “Find out what pleases the LORD.” If what pleases Him is contrary to the world, than shall we suffer? Quite possibly! For the world and some carnal christians will accuse of being ‘legalistic’ when in fact one wants to obey unto love! John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            To follow Jesus is to follow the law, since He is the fulfillment of the law.
            The letter of the law leads to death (as was proven by Jesus’s crucifixtion) but the spirit of the law leads to life (as proven by His resurrection). We follow Jesus’s two new commandments, which fulfills all old testament laws.

            Romans 8 =========
            For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
            ========

            “The righteous requirement of the law might be FULLY MET in us”.

            This takes a leap of faith.

      • But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and
        not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.” 1 Cor 10:20

        “Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.” Jeremiah 10:2-5

        Deuteronomy 16:21 “You are not to plant any sort of tree as a sacred pole beside the
        altar of Adonnai your God, that you will make for yourselves. Likewise, do not set up a
        standing stone, Adonai your GOD HATES such things.”

        Deuteronomy 7:26 “Do not bring something abhorrent into your house, or you will share
        in the curse that is on it, instead, you are to detest it completely, loathe it utterly,
        for it is set apart for destruction”.

        1 Corinthians 10:21 (Whole Chapter)
        You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat
        at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too.”

        Matthew 5:17 “He who keeps the Least of the Commands and teaches others to do likewise
        will be called Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who fails to keep the least of
        these Commands and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of
        heaven.”

        And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if
        the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not
        a word. (I Kings 18:21)

        1st John 3:4 “Sin is Breaking the Law of Adonai, in fact, anyone who Sins Breaks the LAW of
        Adonai”

        (2 Cor 6:14-18) 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
        righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

        15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an
        infidel?

        16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the
        living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their
        God, and they shall be my people.

        17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not
        the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

        18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord
        Almighty.

        (Deuteronomy 12:29-31) 29When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;

        30Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be
        destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did
        these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.

        31Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he
        hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have
        burnt in the fire to their gods.

        Yahshua said He did NOT come to change one jot or tittle of the Law but to UPHOLD the Law. The Scriptures speak for themselves. They do NOT command you to follow Easter (Ishtar) but Passover. I strongly urge you to check the Scriptures and SEE for YOURSELF what Yah/God says to follow rather than taking any man’s word, be it your pastor or another. It does not matter to Yah/God how you see what your doing or what it means to YOU. It matters what it means to Him and to Him its an abomination.

        May Yahshua open your eyes to His truth! Yah bless.

        Sharon

        • hopeful_watcher says:

          To Him its an abomination?

          My church I attend worships on Sunday and it is 100% filled with the Holy Spirit? Tell me, why would the Lord be present there if its such an abomination?

        • hopeful_watcher says:

          It’s funny you would quote scripture by Paul, because he wrote elsewhere things you must believe to be blasphemy.

          Galatians 3:
          23 Before the coming of this faith, [j] we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

        • Dee says:

          And also this: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Cor 5:8

          What feast? Not the eucharist, no ishtar, Passover!

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            To celebrate the old testament passover is to miss the point of the entire new covenant.

            The ancient passover was to celebrate God remembering the isrealites suffering while in ‘bondage’ and passing over them when the wrath of God was disepensed upon the Egyptians. This was done by the blood of the sacrificed lamb sprinkled over their thresholds.

            To have faith in Jesus’s redemptive act of His death and resurrection IS to celebrate the Passover, EVERYDAY. Not the ancient passover but a new passover through the new covenant.

            How can you not see the exact parallels. Slave to egypt~slave to sin, sacrifice of a lamb~Jesus is that lamb, blood sprinkled on the threshold as an outward sign~blood of Christ over the threshold of our heart, being passed over from God’s wrath for defying Him~our sin being passed over so we don’t suffer death.

            Don’t minimize Jesus’s new covenant and its importance by celebrating passover in the old way with unleavened bread. But celebrate it with “sincerity and truth”

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            Also consider this. The Lord in all His richness and beauty gave additional signs to Jesus’s second coming and His redemptive power.

            It could be said that the Jews had missed the opportunity of participating in the passover of the NEW covenant through Jesus. Likewise, there were Jews in the old testament that missed the passover because they were unclean, because they had contact with a dead body (think Jesus here) Numbers 9: 6

            But they were given a second chance through a second passover, which they call Pesach Sheni.

            When Jesus comes back there will be a second chance for the Jews… Pesach Sheni.

            Now that is just beautifully poetic.

          • Dee says:

            To celebrate the Passover as a Christian believer in Jesus is to remember what He has done and to ‘celebrate’.

            “When Jesus comes back there will be a second chance for the Jews…” So Jesus’s once for all death and sacrifice on the cross was not sufficient for all mankind?

          • hopeful_watcher says:

            Yes, and what He has done was conquer death and redeem us from sin.

            Of course Jesus’s sacrifice is sufficient, but you still have to accept it. The Jews must accept Jesus as the messiah, even now.

  2. On Good Friday: “Christians must respond to evil with good, taking the cross upon themselves as Jesus did,” said Pope Francis.

    This statement troubles me.
    Respond with good? What is good? Jesus said, none are good but the father in heaven.

    I make this case in my thesis “woe to us when good defeats evil.” Linked off my name above.

    I stated this the other day but it bares repeating:
    It’s like we are observing a chess match of good versus evil, and I say “place your bet to win salvation. Which side win? Black or white?”

    Then we find out later that the game was rigged, because Satan is playing both sides of the board. The only way to win the bet is to not bet at all! And this is what Jesus instructs us to do. Not to bet. He says it is finished. All we must do is have faith in that victory and proclaim it.

    • owl says:

      I see good works as a relative concept from our human perspective. Unless one is connected to the holy spirit that sees all in a greater scheme of cause and effect and does works empowered by the holy spirit all the apparent good works motivated by our intellect even the heart may be in vain. We are saved by grace and not good works. Masonic lost brothers believe in the great works but these are devil’s pipe dreams that lead to idolatry. Mother theresa the queen of earthly good works learned that lesson towards the end of her life by recognizing the silence from God.

      Human intellect is limited and usually seduced by the wickedness of the heart typically driven by mentally constructed ideologies of an unhumbled ego like lucifer’s and feel good desires of the heart for one to be recognized, accepted, loved or whatever the needs of the day are. That is why Jesus Christ said that none are good but the father in heaven.

      What good is it to give a beggar money if the beggar will continue to beg? Or to your children everything they want and turn them into entitlement expecting zombies addicted to comforts leading them to hypocrisy and sin to maintain the lifestyle? How about poisoned vaccines to third world countries or GMOs to the hungry? What we think is good is more often than not the devil playing us and our brothers into a trap.

  3. louthesaint says:

    Our worship is in Spirit and in Truth. As such the Father seeketh.
    It is not about Days! feasts! saturday! or sunday! It is the Day of rest that is established in the heart By Faith Heb4:3

    Look here: is you looking at that woman with some intentions……. or is you picking ears of corn on the sabbath,,,,, Y’all Know what i mean now! Old Lou is entered HIs rest. I’s an’t looking with some intention, neither I’s I picking corn…. I’s Just come out of Babylon . loving my Lord!

    • Dee says:

      Amen on Hebrews 4

      I think there is still some significnae to resting on a Sabbath day (Saturday), honoring your parents (even if they don’t know the LORD). Not to hold the commandments ‘legalistically’ as “if” by our obedience we could ‘earn’ heaven. No, we do these things because we love our LORD; that obedience comes from our heart. Yes?

    • BT says:

      Lou, I know that is the generally accepted understanding about the Sabbath.

      It could be that I’m being brain-washed maybe!?

      But if you watched the video I posted above, you will see why I believe they still matter.

      Keep in mind, I’m not saying it is a salvation issue, based on works, but that is looks to me the saying goes “If you love Me, keep my commandments”, and to keep the Sabbath is right along with not murdering or coveting, which comes down to what is in the heart also.

      I agree, Jesus is our rest. But does that nullify the commandments?
      I’m not convinced that it does.

    • louthesaint says:

      Hello BT, I have yet to watch the video and cannot comment on it at present. Be glad to hear from anyone who has.

      I am not suggesting that you guys don’t put into practice the things that you are convinced of.
      Apostle Paul said “Blessed is the man whose conscience does not condemn Him in what he does” Of course that can only apply to one who walks by Faith. in no way was the Apostle justifying sin by what he is saying and neither am I. a person of genuine Faith will always be convicted of the sinful nature.

      As a former catholic I am aware of the bind which is placed upon the soul of its adherents. Missing church on a Sunday was a mortal sin. I am also aware that folks from the Sabbath keeping churches with whom I also had frequent meetings in the past, likewise pass condemnation upon any who do not keep the Sabbath, some even say that there is no salvation unless one keeps the Day holy. The way i see it both camps use this guilt trip subjectivity.
      I am convinced of neither, nor of the necessity as the Messianic’s do to keep the Jewish feast Days.

      I know of a man who is a member of the ‘Free Presbyterian church’ and he tells me that they do not keep feasts like Christmas or Easter, yet they meet on a Sunday. This man is a praying man He and I have prayed before He is a great witness for Christ in the locality where we live.
      The early church ‘Broke bread’ from house to house every day. most Churches except for the Catholic and orthodox break bread weekly or monthly.

      One thing I am convinced, Christ Died for sinners. Our walk of Faith is empowered by the Holy Spirit, “the wind blows where it wills” by the hand of the Almighty. His grace permitted me to start this walk and His grace will enable me to finish it. if along the course I am convicted of observing a particular day above any other I will.
      I thing I am not is closed-minded.

      PS, I would ask your prayers for a lady who is presently subjected to familiar spirits (she believes herself very devout because she hears audible voices of angels) she has experienced bleeding from her brow and images of the cross and Mary on the hands.

      Thanking you

      • BT says:

        I can totally understand where you’re coming from, Lou.

        On the other hand, my conscience has let me get away with some pretty heinous things in the past! (Even when I professed to be a Christian.) I want to know if there are clear guidelines I ought to follow.

        “The heart is deceitful…”~Jeremiah 17:9

        I would have to go back and watch the video to take notes if I was to try to teach it to others, but I just don”t think I can do it justice. Up until a couple years ago, I hadn’t given all this much though, so it’s not like I’ve been steeped in this belief for a long time.

        If someone does watch it and can refute what he has to say, then I would be interested to hear it.

        I know, personally, it did speak to my heart in a good way, not one that came across as condemning if one did not see things the same way.

        • BT says:

          P.S.
          I can’t imagine what that lady must be going through!

          Do you think it is a form of Possession?

          • louthesaint says:

            I do not know if it is possession or not, But I feel that it is demonic.
            She reads the bible but cannot understand it, Goes to mass everyday, ministers the eucharist to the elderly, prays to Mary and the Saints.
            When I say familiar Spirits that is what I sensed the Lord was showing me when I was praying for Her.the scripture Acts16:17came to mind

            This woman is come into a Catholic sphere where for some time now I have been witnessing. It seems that she is reenforcing catholicism where I have deposited biblical truth.
            She has 6 priests that support her and encourage her to write all what the voices tell her.
            I am praying that The Lord would put a stop to the voices.

          • BT says:

            Yes, stopping the voices would be a good start!
            Sounds like you are up against something serious.

            I pray the Lord keeps you safe and sets her free from being used as a tool for demonic influences.

          • owl says:

            Reading the bible and not being able to understand it yet being religious is the first red flag of a probable possession not to mention hearing voices in the head. Sounds like she’s got some religious demons or is under heavy mind control by the magical 6 priests, hard do tell without more info like what are the messages she is receiving and does she use a rosary and in general more info on that church that to me sounds like a new age cult with a catholic veneer on the outside considering she ministers the eucharist being a female. That does not sound catholic at all.

          • BT says:

            I was curious about that, too…What is she being told to write???

        • louthesaint says:

          BT,Some of the messages from remembrance are, ‘Don’t be fooled by those who profess faith’ ‘believe in justice and peace’ ‘you wear the white robe of Abraham’ ‘Michael is with you’ ‘I will gather the holy to be together’ ‘your husband is trust worthy’ they are usually short in context.
          I have asked her for the writings, but she says she is only to give it to the priests. May be they are sussing it out!
          These messages keep this lady up all night she also sees lights around her, and at times she passes out. She mostly sleeps during the day.
          I think it is a kind of torment but she sees it as some blessing and so does her husband and those associated with her.
          Owl, She is thoroughly Catholic. These 6 priests belong to a Polish order of some mission and are working within her local parish. yes she does pray the rosary as most catholics do so.

          Any way I’ll just see what results from praying for her..
          Thanks for your concern.

          • owl says:

            That’s the best you can do is pray for her. The support from the priests, her husband and her own belief in the blessing is a difficult wall to penetrate. Based on the little info it sounds like she is being prepped for something. The number of priests being six on a mission and bursts of short messages with symptoms you describe sounds like an occult operation. Note there is no mention of Jesus Christ.

  4. Kathy Morris says:

    Thank you for sharing!

  5. Charles says:

    My foundation for having faith and belieth, in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, comes from John Chapter 6. In the gospel we hear Jesus the Christ; the Son of the Living God; and the Second Person of The Blessed Trinity speaking in his own words. By the grace of God and no merit of my own, I say yes Lord and beleive. And only by the passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ may we receive the promise of God the messiah or mashiach. And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: God Bless you and I would appreciate your comments. Thanks… John chapter 6 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

    2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

    3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

    4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

    5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

    6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

    7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

    8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him,

    9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

    10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

    11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

    12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

    13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

    14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

    15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

    16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,

    17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

    18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

    19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

    20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

    21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

    22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

    23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

    24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

    25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

    26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

    27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

    28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

    29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

    30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

    31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

    32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

    33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

    34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

    35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

    36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

    37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

    38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

    39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

    40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

    41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

    42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

    43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

    44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

    45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

    46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

    47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

    48 I am that bread of life.

    49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

    50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

    51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

    52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

    53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

    54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

    55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

    56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

    57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

    58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

    59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

    60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

    61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

    62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

    63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

    64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

    65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

    66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

    67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

    68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

    69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

    70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

    71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.