Many Americans haunted by ghosts, look to astrology – REUTERS By Ed Stoddard – Thu Dec 10, 9:23 am ET

I’ve always been a Christian. I grew up Catholic but I’m now just a Christian. Many people call it non-denominational, but it’s no different. A Christian is a Christian. Right?

To add to this, I grew up with both of my parents being born and raised in South Louisiana – Cajun Country. There is a rich heritage of food, music and beliefs. Beliefs such as Traiteurs (treaters or healers) and that someone could put the Gris-Gris (pronounced Gree-Gree) or a type of voodoo curse on you. So while I was a Christian – Catholic – I also believed in these things too, some almost as strongly as the Catholic faith.

While reading through this article it reminded me of that time. How confusing and odd it was for me. To believe that I served THE God who created the universe yet believe that someone could put a curse on me and God would not or could not do anything was completely opposite of what I was supposed to believe. As you read through the article you notice the numbers and percentages of people that have beliefs in everything from astrology, to ghost, to even mixing in Eastern and New Age religions. Yet, we are clearly instructed and told in Exodus 20:3-6:

Anything that is not of God, His Word, His Son, or His Spirit that is obeyed and yielded to is disobedience and ultimately sin. The most disturbing statement in this article is the quote from Pew researcher Alan Cooperman, where he states, “American religious folks hold a variety of views and there is overlap among their beliefs and practices. Many do not fit into simple boxes.” While I understand that “religious folks” can cover a multitude of views and beliefs in America, the article is directly siting Americans who are Christian or have a more dominant tendency toward Christianity – that just sounds weird.

Look, it’s as simple as this – either you are a Christian or your not. You can’t be a little Christian and a little New Age and a little of this and that. There is no place for it…God’s Word is clear. Jesus said in John 14:6:

Being a Christian means you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you become, as the word Christian means – a little Christ. You are supposed to reflect Him, 100%, not the other religions and beliefs and views. Getting into agreement or even having a belief other than what His Word says compromises the very things that He died for on your behalf! In fact, it nulls and voids it, hence why in Exodus it says that you and your children for generations to come will not be blessed just simply for allowing that sin in and then passing it on to your children.

Our Pastor taught us about something earlier this year that bears sharing here. In Genesis 47 we read the account of Joseph and the famine that came upon all the lands surrounding Egypt. Joseph had received favor (Godly favor) in the sight of pharaoh and when Joseph’s family (the nation of Israel) came to him asking for helping, pharaoh granted them to live, dwell and have the land of Goshen in Egypt. What’s interesting is that if you study this chapter and the next chapters, through the beginning of Exodus, out, you will notice that while the rest of the people both in and outside of Egypt were dealing with a famine, the people who served God and only his direction, (the Word of God) living in the land of Goshen, flourished! Genesis 47:27 says:

Now while that is great and definitely what we want, what you see is that the people of Israel grew and multiplied so much that they began to intermingle with the Egyptians. As they did, they of course still believed in God and His Word, but they started adopting and beginning to believe some of the Egyptian ways and beliefs. If you don’t believe that, just look at what they did when it took days for Moses to come down from the mountain where he was receiving the 10 Commandments – what did the people of Israel do? They created golden calves and golden gods to begin worshiping, assuming that either Moses left them behind or was killed by God. Now where did they learn that? These were supposed to be the people of God! The ones who were made in the image and likeness of God. Yet here they are making gods and worshiping them, knowing their core beliefs?

Christians, the time has come to stop intermingling our belief with other non-Bible beliefs! We wonder why people have a hard time believing in Christ or Christianity? What have we given this world and those looking for Him? Confusion? Misguidance? Yet we were told to be a witness and preach the Gospel. What is the Gospel? That Jesus Christ is THE way, THE truth, and THE life and that NO ONE and NOTHING provides you access to God, our heavenly Father – PERIOD! So what do you do if you have been a Christian who picked up some things from Egypt and intermingled them with your beliefs?

First, stop it and get rid of it – ditch those beliefs and things you have picked up along the way that replace or displace God, Jesus and His Word.

Second, repent and turn away from that belief – God gave us THE way through His Son, Jesus, and if we heartfully repent and turn away from those things, He is faithful to forgive us and bring us back into right standing with Him.

Third, pickup and build up your relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit – read the Bible and begin placing God’s Word (His Will, Beliefs, direction, guidance, and life) back inside you. Stay focused on Jesus – let Him be first in all things…give Him the preeminence and do not let any other gods go before Him. As you do this, you begin to love God and His Word which positions you for a full return of His love and blessings that will extend to generations of your family, because the right things will be passed down. We just have to start with asking ourselves, “What do I believe? And who am I according to the Bible?”

And that is The Truth!
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Hard Rock Corporate – Histrory

I was digging through some old stuff that I had from when I was kid and found some papers, a menu, and a button from the first time I ever went to a Hard Rock Cafe. While I was parsing through those items and trying to determine if these little trinkets of my past were worth holding on to, I ran across one of the Hard Rock Cafe’s Corporate philosophy statements – “Love All – Serve All.”

As these words uttered in my head and in my Spirit, the Holy Spirit reminded me that the same philosophy was owned by one person over 2,000 years ago – Jesus. Regarding loving all, Jesus said the following in John 13:34-35:

Regarding serving all, Jesus said the following in Matthew 20:26-28:

It is clear from these two scriptures that Jesus already had the simple concept of “Love All – Serve All” before the Hard Rock Cafe came along. As you look at the ministry of Jesus, it becomes VERY clear that He did indeed Love ALL and Served ALL! Everything that Jesus did during His earthly ministry, as well as why He came and what He accomplished on the Cross was done through His love and serving of what God called Him to do. In fact, we are told in John 3:16-17 the following:

How unselfish! How full of love! Who would EVER sacrifice their only child for just one person, let alone the whole world full of people? Have you ever met anyone in this world that has had so great a love for people as this? But yet, it is clear from what Jesus taught us in the scriptures before this that when we love as He has loved us that the world will know us as Jesus’ followers and TRUE Christians if we love with His unconditional love. It won’t be through Christian music, or the little “Jesus fish” on the back of your car, or the WWJD necklace you where around your neck. It will only be through the love that you receive from God through our Lord Jesus Christ that they will know. This is why it is so important to Love All. Here at Herald of The Truth we have talked about this before and for further reading on loving all, be sure to revisit the article, “Love All!”

What about this serving of all? Look again at what Jesus said – he said we are to be servants to one another. In fact, he says that you are to be a slave to one another! A slave? That means surrendering all your rights, all your wants, all your desires, and all your comforts, to serve those things for others! You may be thinking, “Wait a minute! You mean Jesus wants me to give up my wants and desires to help provide the wants, desires and comfort by serving others? That sounds a bit unfair!” Well, isn’t this what Jesus had to do? Think about it for a minute – before Jesus came to this earth, where did he reside? Did he not reside in heaven with God? And if He was there, don’t you think that He lives in heavenly peace and did not know pain, bruising, bleeding, cutting, or any harm to Him? Do you think it was His desire, personally speaking, to be nailed to a cross and go through the torture and pain? Recall what even Jesus went through hours before being handed over to the Jews so that God’s Will may be fulfilled – Matthew 26:38-39:

Jesus prays to Father God about not having to endure what He knew He was going to have to do, but yet what prevails here? Jesus’ prayer is not His will be done, but that Father God’s will be done. What was Father God’s will to be done? We mentioned it earlier in John 3:16-17. Doing the will of the Father is being a servant. Jesus was serving the need also of all of humanity too! Had He decided not to do what His Father willed, we would never have the salvation that He completed through completing the will of God! And we have MUCH to be thankful for Jesus being obedient, even unto the completed work upon the cross! That is serving unselfishly and without thought of Himself – PRAISE BE TO JESUS!

Loving all and servant hood should be at the heart of every Christian and should drive us in all that we do. As we do these two things and step out to “Love All – Serve All” only then will the world see who Jesus is in and through us!

And that is The Truth!
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Seeking Psychics: Consumers Look to Outside Help for Financial Advice

Which is worse? To receive counsel and trust in financial advisers like Bernie Madoff or to listen to the counsel of fortune tellers, soothsayers, mystics, or, as they are now called, “Intuitives?” When it comes to your finances and the financial decisions you make in this world’s system, you better choose neither choice, at least as a Christian and follower of Jesus!

While this article does not disclose the actual numbers that are turning to using these “Intuitives” it does present some startling information of how much they are used. From companies and corporations enlisting the services of Intuitives for $10,000 a day, to Intuitives building large companies that can support over 150 employees and have “sales” increases that average 7 1/2 percent year over year – MUCH better than most of the corporations that are struggling just to stay open and afloat during this economy! Their customers could describe them with words like “boost” givers, anxiety relievers, life-direction givers, confidence instillers, life coaches, advice givers, and even counselors.

While many will find encouragement and direction, we have to be clear about whom Intuitives are and what the Bible says about them. First of all, an Intuitive, by definition is someone having the “power” to discern the true nature of a person or situation. A synonym that could be used is to call them instinctive, which, by definition, is acting or happening without apparent forethought, prompting, or planning. Notice that they are void of involving God, His Word, Jesus, or in seeking the Holy Ghost regarding anything. Everything they advise on comes from them – in some cases, we may call them their own gods.

So what does the Bible say about these Intuitives? Jude, the brother of James warned the body of Christ about these people and even reminded us of them that had been marked before! In Jude 1:4 (New Living Translation), Jude calls them out:

For us, as Christians, we must watch those that come into the body of Christ that have nothing to do with Jesus and then proclaim to be able to help direct our lives and show us the things they “instinctively” know about us. Do not be convinced nor deceived into believing things that the Word of God does not even speak over you! Only the God Himself knows this. He has already told us in Jeremiah 29:11:

Who else would know more than the Lord God Almighty?

Jude goes warning Christians in Jude 1:17-19 (The New Living Translation):

Notice what Jude said here – they are out to satisfy their own desires! Brothers and Sisters in Christ, if these people had your best interest in mind, would they not offer up their “gifts” to HELP the body of Christ as we, as Christians are called to, without looking to be paid for it? The body of Christ is to operate in similar Gifts of the Spirit to edify and help everyone with giving them leading, direction, guidance, edification, and building each other up in faith, without any need for payment!

Even further, notice what Jude says in verse 19 – “They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.” Sounds exactly like the “Intuitives” or “Instinctive” ones described in the article. As a result of this, what happens when these people get into the body of Christ or begin to influence one of Christ followers? Jude calls it out clearly at the beginning of verse 19 – “These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you.” This is what causes people to be double-minded or following both Jesus and God’s word, while trying to listen to their “Intuitive.” You cannot follow two different words that oppose one another or contradict each other – that is called confusion and has lead many to mental distress and even to not knowing who or what to trust.

So what are we to do? Let’s let the word speak for itself – Jude 1:20-25 (The New Living Translation):

If you encourage, build up, and use the Gifts of the Spirit that God has imparted to you, who have Jesus living in and through you, this is how we keep each other safe in God’s love! The love of God being shed abroad in the body of Christ’s heart is how we can receive all that we may think we need from some Intuitive. No Intuitive can give what Jesus has given! But notice here too, that the same love that keeps us safe is the love we are to extend to those that have waivered or are wavering and allowing this stuff to contaminate their lives that believe and choose the word of an Intuitive over the Word of God. Pray for them to know The Truth and to not be destroyed by the choices they make now, but to be saved by and through the choice the make for New Life! Stay focused on this Truth in verse 25 – “All glory, majesty, power, and authority are His before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.” That sounds like a future and a hope that can only be delivered by one person and that is the Lord, Master and King, Jesus!

And that is The Truth!
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As part of our mission, we believe that keeping you informed as to what God is doing in and through Herald of The Truth, is just as important as the articles and content found here. With that being said, we are committing to deliver a quarterly report, of sorts, that acknowledges all the places that this ministry is touching and all the people that God is reaching with His Word, His Son, and His Spirit.

Since December 28, 2008, Herald of The Truth has focused on taking “worldly” news articles that leave out The Truth of God’s Word and deliver on what God’s Word – The Truth – has to say in response to every topic and subject. The vision and goal is still to not focus on any particular author but instead to focus on delivering The Truth so that it may reach a world that needs to know it. We continue to be lead by the Holy Ghost to authors who will deliver on this single goal and hope to have other authors being posting more and more content so that you may have The Truth in its fullness. Since the 28th of December of 2008 we have had one additional author post on Herald of The Truth and we are excited about what God is doing in and through that author. We hope and pray that you are too and that it abundantly bless and minister to you.

One of the biggest parts of ministering the Gospel is soul winning – saving those that are lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ being Lord and Savior of all who call upon His name! During the last three months Herald of The Truth is blessed to have received it’s FIRST salvation from a gentleman in Nigeria who contact us February. We quickly sent out some books/materials that were focused on nurturing and growing his Faith and new found salvation in Jesus! Praise be to God for the Harvest! We know that Jesus would have died if there would have only been ONE person on this earth, just so God could have his child returned to Him! We just glorify Jesus for that salvation and pray and know there will be more lives touched, changed, and transformed by the very love of God!

As of March 28, 2009, we have 120 unique visitors from 30 countries throughout the world! Of those visitors more than HALF of them are repeat visitors of Herald of The Truth and we just thank you and praise God for you that you are the faithful, Word-of-God-hungry people that seek The Truth to fill you and displace the lies that try to take over your life!

We want to take this time to recognize the countries that we are praying for and know that God’s Word – The Truth – is working to change a country for the glory of God. The countries we have seen our visitors come from include:

Switzerland, Canada, Germany, Australia, United Kingdom, Brazil, Lithuania, Malawi, Spain, El Salvador, Philippines, Guatemala, Indonesia, Denmark, India, Serbia, Mexico, Hong Kong, Romania, Ukraine, Netherlands, Colombia, Nigeria, Sweden, Russia, Italy, Algeria, Finland, Singapore, and the United Stated of America

We just pray that God may richly bless each and every nation and know that the spreading of the Gospel is happening and going to those that need to know The Truth!

We want to thank each and every one of you that take the time each day to read and spend time here on Herald of The Truth. It is because of you and the Holy Ghost commission that we continue to move forward in the mission that we received at the end of last year. We look forward to Q2 2009 when we believe that we will have even greater news to share of all that the Lord has done in and through Herald of The Truth! May God richly bless you and may you keep His Truth close to you at all times!

Blessings on all!
The Staff of Herald of The Truth

Madoff’s stolen statue returned — with a ‘lesson’

Love all? Even Bernie Madoff? Love Bernie? Why would anyone do that after what he has done to everyone else? Why would the consideration even be given to have anything toward Bernie except anger, hatred, disgust, or any other contempt toward a man such as this? One reason – because Jesus said so!

In Matthew 5:38-40 (New King James), Jesus says the following:

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

The first and biggest thing we must establish as Christians that are of The Truth of God’s Word is that God’s Word is soverign and trumps all other things, including our mind, our will, and especially our emotions. During events and issues like this with Mr. Madoff, its amazing how many turn to their emotions instead of the Word of God – and yes, I’m talking about Christians!

Secondly, let’s look at what Jesus has instructed in context of what happened with Bernie’s statue. Jesus specifically says, in verses 44 and 45:

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

I think we can all agree that what Bernie did has cursed many people’s and company’s finances and that Bernie has spitefully used many people and company’s finances for his own personal gain. Those are the facts, but look at what The Truth of God’s Word says – what are we to do to and for individuals like this? We are to “bless those that curse you” and “pray for those that spitefully use you.” Bless and pray for Bernie? Does he deserve that? What kind of God do we serve that commands that we “bless” and “pray” for someone like this?

Notice what Jesus says in verse 45 – “He (God) makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” What Jesus is saying here is that regardless of good or bad, just or unjust, right or wrong, God still gives His best for all to partake in because His love is available to all. Who are we to judge or say who should get what or how they should be treated when there is no partiality with God? It seems, to your mind, will and emotions, almost unfair that God would allow His best to still be available to a person like Bernie, but if God was a God that only loved the loveable, He would have never sent his Son, Jesus, and things would have been drastically different for all of us!

The Apostle Paul states in Romans 5:8 (New King James):

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

That love, a love that turned its back on the sin within us for the sake of saving us, recreating us, and bring us back to right standing before God, is the same love that should be in and through us that helps us to see how and why we should “bless” and “pray” for a man like Bernie. It takes nothing of God or of what Jesus did to react and respond out of your body and out of a sin nature to look for ways to get your “jab” in on him. Any ole’ sinner who does not know Christ can do that! But it takes living out of the recreated, changed Spirit of God that lives within you to tap into the Love of God and of His Son to “Bless” and “Pray” for Bernie.

What’s interesting about this is that regardless of the person, God is that kind of God that He makes all of His best, His goodness, and the same salvation and life changing experience available to everyone, even to the point of them breathing their last breath! Recall what happened at Calvary when Jesus was crucified with the two criminals. We don’t know what these two criminals did, but it must have been bad enough to label them criminals. But let’s pay more attention to the way that these two spoke to Jesus and what Jesus’ response was to them. One criminal blasphemed Jesus and mocked Him saying and acting excatly as Jesus’ false accusers had acted. The other criminal rebuked the blasphemer and then humbled himself to ask for Jesus to just remember him in Heaven – this criminal even went as far as to call Jesus his Lord, which means he had given his life to Him in the midst of this criminal’s death. And notice that Jesus told this criminal that that day he would be with Jesus in Heaven! Remember, these were criminals and the one who had petitioned Jesus had even said that they were being justly punished for their deeds which they freely chose, but with just one change of heart, one turn to recognize Jesus as who He was to this criminal, God’s love was so great to save him, regardless of his past! THAT is the power of God’s love! That is the love we are to not only know and share among other Believers but we are to give towards ALL, regardless!

And that is The Truth!

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I just Praise God and thank Him and the Holy Ghost for all He has done in and through me. I’m humbled and amazed that The Father, The God of the Universe, would use someone like me to bring something like this to you and the ends of the earth! So I just lean not on me or my abilities but look to the Holy Ghost, Jesus and the Word of God to deliver to you, the reader, The Truth.

Being an engineer and, as my wife calls me, computer nerd, by formal University education, it seems odd that He would call me into a ministry such as this. But I trust God and the Holy Ghost and understand that this is not about me or any individual’s ability – it’s all about Jesus!

For far too long both God’s people and the people of the world have been subjected to media, newspaper, T.V., opinions and various other sources telling them “the facts” but always leaving them questioning “the truth” of the matter. I’ll say it just like the Holy Ghost said to me…..”what the world needs now is to know The Truth in all things. They are hungry for The Truth and are waiting for someone to show them and tell them The Truth.” In a nutshell, that is exactly what “Herald of The Truth” is all about!

I’m not really sure where this will go or what the Holy Ghost has in store, but I do know that as I step out and do as I’ve been instructed that The Truth that the Holy Ghost was referring to will be delivered and known! What you can expect from this site is nothing but The Truth of God’s Word, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost delivering resp0nses to headlines, news topics, and various subjects that lack The Truth. These responses will be delivered by mighty men and women of God who know and are just as eager to share The Truth with you!

Feel free to submit e-mails and comments suggesting or asking for The Truth about any news article, topic or media source that you need to hear The Truth about. We will be more than happy to allow The Truth to come out!

We hope you enjoy this site – please subscribe and visit often as we know that God will reveal Himself, His Son, the Holy Ghost and most importantly, The Truth to you personally!

Be blessed always!
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