tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87693802798717825292024-03-13T19:07:35.769-07:00For Your Information Humans are not simple. They are complex. It is my belief that God has spoken. We need to listen.
In For Your Information I will be helping you with tools to do just that.
Feel free to add comments. Let's make this a dialogue.Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.comBlogger288125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-30327236792491592292022-09-28T13:41:00.000-07:002022-09-28T13:41:05.757-07:00The Gospel Of John<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQ0WXwUckM-0Nrf9gbKSm5HX8Lw0rBV9YlZEx8EYRtTAvw5vfpjTAI52L9LwgciTMTLGiwxlrSr_Fx4DDXIkvwTaGtnOP4tJUAaF1tZ7ATSM9rwrP8Nl8JNdyvTOW7BI95L6mHRX-9gtuiqxfNaupxZZTRX3HNEpXM0VoS5PGA3QCnAPvB5pL6iZfYg/s877/welcome.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="877" height="55" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQ0WXwUckM-0Nrf9gbKSm5HX8Lw0rBV9YlZEx8EYRtTAvw5vfpjTAI52L9LwgciTMTLGiwxlrSr_Fx4DDXIkvwTaGtnOP4tJUAaF1tZ7ATSM9rwrP8Nl8JNdyvTOW7BI95L6mHRX-9gtuiqxfNaupxZZTRX3HNEpXM0VoS5PGA3QCnAPvB5pL6iZfYg/w200-h55/welcome.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /> It has been some time since I have posted here. But I want you to know I am still alive.<p></p><p> During the pandemic most churches have been doing on-line services, if at all. I have found a church that livestreams and does have in-building services.</p><p> The pastor there is going through the Gospel according to John. He was the one Jesus loved. </p><p> Slowly we are moving through the story-verse by verse. . It is interesting to view the story and actually seeing the God/man. Fully God and fully man. United into one-- not mixed but equal parts. A unity..</p><p> And I am blessed by being one of those who each week opens the service. My wife and I co-team. One week I do it. The next, she does. We get up and read the psalm of the day, chosen by the youth pastor, And then we open in prayer. When we finish we turn the service over to the praise band to offer us worship songs before the pastor speaks. Sometimes the senior pastor preaches. Other times the youth pastor preaches. When they are gone we have guest pastors.</p><p> It is good to be back in group fellowship. Watching on line services is good, but you don't really have fellowship with other believers. </p><p><br /></p>Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-42988344555175733342020-12-16T15:44:00.000-08:002020-12-16T15:44:15.912-08:00Your Authority Is The Bible<p> All this talk and you ,may be wondering, just where does this guy get off? He is writing so much about a Bible and yet, ..</p><p> Yes, the Bible is the authority I go by when I write in this blog because God has spoken and has recorded all He has said in the Bible.</p><p>Not everyone has a Bible. Hard to believe. But even those who say they do, may only have opne thnat is never read and therefore is collecting dust. </p><p>Brush it off and sit down and read it.</p><p>And for those who wish to send a Bible or support a group that sends out Bibles, let me put a banner on the bottom of this post. Click on it and find out how you can be part of the distribution of scripture.</p><p>Mostly, unless you have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ you won't be able to really understand what you read. I k now I have covered this topic earlier, and well again in the future. As for this post I just want you to know Bibles are available</p><p>Stay a reader of this blog and join in the journey.</p><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=210552&u=2296457&m=23184&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank"><img alt="Bibles.com" border="0" src="https://static.shareasale.com/image/23184/120x60-Generic.jpg" /></a><div><br /></div><div>May God bless you in your journey/</div>Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-6900876970981545892020-12-02T11:48:00.000-08:002020-12-02T11:48:36.796-08:00Gender Identification<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuIiXC9oTnnucZEx_i7Vpt1DOa-64A8T0EU71pJO61cOGfPABgQ_0EIlGHnQK3TgBsQeSYd9yjkTQx4ukiyHbgDhMJ9QySt-tSsERTiTYvr7erJeDcP8ng7mPDp8MZDe1zuOVViN-tH3F/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="195" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuIiXC9oTnnucZEx_i7Vpt1DOa-64A8T0EU71pJO61cOGfPABgQ_0EIlGHnQK3TgBsQeSYd9yjkTQx4ukiyHbgDhMJ9QySt-tSsERTiTYvr7erJeDcP8ng7mPDp8MZDe1zuOVViN-tH3F/w185-h200/image.png" width="185" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p> It is all around us now. Or at least it seems to be. I mean this teaching in the schools that boys and girls are the same. That there is no difference. That you can chose who you are sexually. Chose to be a make or a female. Be what you were born to be. And so on.</p><p>I am here to tell you a secret. Come closer now. Closer.</p><p>When God created you through the process of birth into this world, He made no mistake. He knew your sexual identity before you were formed in your mother's womb. He knew if you were male or female.</p><p>He did not make you a whatever in your mother's womb. </p><p>God did not make a transgender.</p><p>"Then God said, "Let us make make man in our image..." God created man in His own image, male and female He created them.</p><p>God's image is not what we see when we look at a person. It is inner. </p><p>Let me venture that God's image is relational, in that we were created to be in relation to another person. God also created him; male and female. He created them to procreate and to fellowship and to subdue the elements around him.</p><p>I guess a whole different post could be written, and will be written, on subdue.</p><p>Point is, God did not make a mistake when He created male and female.</p><p>I believe when a person decides to become a gender they were not born as, they tamper with the image of God they have. They are making their own god. That new god is self. And God, the creator, is a jealous God. He doesn't share Himself with anyone or thing.</p><p>Feel free to post feedback. I will respond.</p><p><br /></p>Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-26749381957524309192020-09-19T13:18:00.000-07:002020-09-19T13:18:26.699-07:00People Need To Hear From God<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-mgD_EbaEQmjbqImcWjdWIp3Y18eslCnOST0d6qMugmfeCbFRH6ZglaHgg40l6R1sGCT0Bm9eMaS_c5ditzUu6xciV16iL1Ue5gQQ3sNqlmrw-llkqyjJOAX7IqMNtL0Y-1GF4vtKE_p/s300/books.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-mgD_EbaEQmjbqImcWjdWIp3Y18eslCnOST0d6qMugmfeCbFRH6ZglaHgg40l6R1sGCT0Bm9eMaS_c5ditzUu6xciV16iL1Ue5gQQ3sNqlmrw-llkqyjJOAX7IqMNtL0Y-1GF4vtKE_p/s0/books.png" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>With all this basic foundation laid down in the past few postings, you may be saying to yourself, sure, but what if the scriptures that will allow me to know God are not in the language of the person I am talking to? I mean, what if I can't end my conversation by handing them a Bible in the tongue they can best read?</p><p>I have an answer. Get them a Bible in their tongue. And you can. I can link you to <a href="https://shrsl.com/2ihsg" target="_blank">a Bible organization that will help you.</a> </p><p>Everyone should be able to read what God has said. I believe God has spoken and has overshadowed some writers to record what He has said. This was because He wants to communicate. Since He is spirit the only way He could connect would be this way.</p><p>I wish to inform you that this posting contains a link to an affiliate market. When you enter using my link given and purchase an item, I will get a commission for providing you a link.</p><p><br /></p>
<a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=210558&u=2296457&m=23184&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank"><img alt="Bibles.com" border="0" src="https://static.shareasale.com/image/23184/125x125-PovertyJustice.jpg" /></a>Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-2576645003296770302020-09-17T14:07:00.001-07:002020-09-17T14:07:18.473-07:00Created To Be Special<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNilhY2K00opSZuqhtT4RIiDeGkzaVPMOIZdvhB9h2o0EZbImgUrYuNkHcqR6BwekLbP65mqaLEggWipEg1dPP8mfLXbfErD65JkLyoLXgVarXGR_lFB50BHFKk9UQecGkC8u-cTT5JwGF/s263/middle+age.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="263" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNilhY2K00opSZuqhtT4RIiDeGkzaVPMOIZdvhB9h2o0EZbImgUrYuNkHcqR6BwekLbP65mqaLEggWipEg1dPP8mfLXbfErD65JkLyoLXgVarXGR_lFB50BHFKk9UQecGkC8u-cTT5JwGF/w200-h146/middle+age.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> God didn't have to as he was complete in and of Himself. God, being a trinity, three persons in one being, He was not alone. The Trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.</p><p> God is also love. And love likes to share. He wanted to share. He had finished creating angels, but these angels are ministering spirits. God needed no one to minister to Him if in ministering it means to provide something lacking. God can not lack. God is not his creation . That is above space, time, material and need. But He could create time, material, space and humans. AN dthen HE woujld have something for the angels to minister to. </p><p>The human was not divine. He is not God but in the likeness of God. He was created to share with God the control of the material, time, space around him. But not to rule or manage God. God is above and always has been and will always be outside time, space, material.</p><p>As detailed in earlier posts, man blew it. Big time.</p><p>Man is still special. Yet now he must deal with blockage in the way to greatness. The only one who could remove the blockage is the creator. </p><p>Stay tune for further posts.</p>Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-86972683318555822382020-08-02T13:01:00.000-07:002020-08-02T13:01:52.494-07:00Man Needs To Be In Relation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUE3BUEkx3YnOY2f7eK4Q-FBLu5RMKBxgyyOwsA1C22FgRU_EOOoWGL3tK5pgD0RjnhmbhfgyZ6gBS3ACPUgO-xKTrG9fY_FCUPjjZ5Sv69Q1I8TyypQgaWUjzMDRu9afY5JDdM-3e9gVZ/s1600/earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="240" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUE3BUEkx3YnOY2f7eK4Q-FBLu5RMKBxgyyOwsA1C22FgRU_EOOoWGL3tK5pgD0RjnhmbhfgyZ6gBS3ACPUgO-xKTrG9fY_FCUPjjZ5Sv69Q1I8TyypQgaWUjzMDRu9afY5JDdM-3e9gVZ/s200/earth.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Next step in the story. God creates man. Gives him authority over animals and co-ruler-ship. He creates a woman for man so he won't be alone. Daily God would come and fellowship with Adam and Eve. All they had to do was tend the garden, eat of the produce .<br />
The produce of the garden was theirs. All except one thing.<br />
In order for God to test them as to their obedience, He gave them one restriction. There was a tree in the midst of the garden. Of this tree they were not to eat. It was a simple rule of obedience. Not at all difficult to understand or obey.<br />
This makes one ask, in what state was Adam and Eve created? They were innocent. But untested. That is the best answer I can give.<br />
But they disobey a command. And now they must be punished with (As God promised) death."The day you eat of it you shall die." was what God told them when he first gave them the restriction.<br />
We don't see them dropping dead at that moment. (Maybe this is where death was introduced into the story. We will never know.<br />
But they are driven out of the garden and the relationship they had with God.<br />
So now we say.. wait! God created them for a relationship with Him. This I believe.<br />
It so happens God was not surprised at what happened. God had already decided in eternity pass what He was going to do when this happened.<br />
There was a way provided back to a relationship. It required shedding blood. Not just any blood would do. It had to be the blood of a sinless creature. Adam and his offspring could not give this blood. It had to be from a perfect individual. A sinless creature.<br />
The only sinless subject was God Himself. I wouldn't say creature because God is not a creature. He is the creator.The un-created creator. The plain was to take on humanity and live a sinless life so he would be the perfect person to die for our sins (disobedience, though that is a very limp term. Sin being anything that is less than the perfection of God, which He demands).<br />
So God started His plan by preparing the world for that event.<br />
And that is the cliffhanger I leave this posting on.Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-77108527616790327092020-07-25T13:39:00.000-07:002020-07-25T13:39:28.702-07:00Man Is Special<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSx7svJoKNbIMKrRurt5GnTEVzUsbW0mmFyWVthyphenhyphenjS8VHuHwtAsC_r1UPagMsYgXUrqYNfUngZoHAuc6JDN_645uBHqZhXGtH7DE_yBrNMp0oadsuSXEDkJUyQc7XmYMXNQyXkaiTSCCLf/s1600/prayer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSx7svJoKNbIMKrRurt5GnTEVzUsbW0mmFyWVthyphenhyphenjS8VHuHwtAsC_r1UPagMsYgXUrqYNfUngZoHAuc6JDN_645uBHqZhXGtH7DE_yBrNMp0oadsuSXEDkJUyQc7XmYMXNQyXkaiTSCCLf/s200/prayer.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
To further our discussion as started in the last few earlier postings--What is man that you are mindful of him. Man is a separate creation of God from the rest of creation.. God did one more thing than He did with the creatures created on the sixth day. He took him and breathed into him the breathe of life. A special endowment the creatures created on that day didn't get.<br />
Man thus is able to fellowship in a relationship with his creator. This is something the animals don't have.<br />
You may think your cat of dog is able to have this type of relationship with you-- his owner-- but it is not the same.<br />
But.. get ready for the bad news. when Adam and Eve were given a simple request, they chose to disobey and use their free will to act independent of what God had told them.<br />
We can see that in the parent/child relationship on a lesser level.<br />
But God still wanted to have a relationship with man. This is what makes man special and makes God take mind of him.<br />
But since man-- Adam as our representative before God-- disobeyed, God had to , from the human standpoint of looking at things, set up a way man could get back in relationship with God without God brushing the act of disobedience away. In other words, God could not say, forget it. I will pretend it never happened. It happened and, if I may say, hurt.<br />
I plan in a later posting to return to this. Let me leave you with this posting. A sort of cliff hanger.<br />
<br />
<br />Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-40824972886833017262020-07-07T15:48:00.000-07:002020-07-07T15:48:20.329-07:00Man In God's ImageSo to continue with the last posting, just what is man-- I shall say this..it was on the sixth day of the creation account man was created. It was the same day the animals were created, the beast of the field after their kind along with the cattle after their kind and the things that creep on the ground after their kind. But man was created special. God brewed into their nostrils the breath of life . Formed man of the dust of the ground. Gave him the image of Himself. Made him at creation a living soul. GAve him submission over the animals and the rulership. It seems He wan ted man to rule with Him and control the earth.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1224904&u=2296457&m=40674&urllink=&afftrack=" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://static.shareasale.com/image/40674/Biblioblockad1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click here for link</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Something happened. They disobeyed God when God told them about that tree they were supposed to eat the fruit of. ( it may be a symbol, but I am not ready to talk about that just yet.)<br />
They lost, not the image of God. We still have that. They lost for all mankind the likeness.<br />
But God so loved His creation that He had a plan. I will talk about that later.<br />
For those of you who like reading more about this or would wish to explore other books, I will have a link in the banner Here.<br />
Enjoy the exploring.Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-57375808626536639712020-07-04T10:58:00.001-07:002020-07-04T10:58:44.315-07:00What Is Man?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YMrAGmd1XffaGCpjDf4EuON-LdP3KiiJZnuY81IapSt2PLEjcgSwtMouC52A-oRgIVG1jdUiBVpDqjtxQfjTot5QlRoeGeG850H0k205oSpC9edI48ObXqmgfdpmczcSMxP1ELMIwQal/s1600/bible+study.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="372" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YMrAGmd1XffaGCpjDf4EuON-LdP3KiiJZnuY81IapSt2PLEjcgSwtMouC52A-oRgIVG1jdUiBVpDqjtxQfjTot5QlRoeGeG850H0k205oSpC9edI48ObXqmgfdpmczcSMxP1ELMIwQal/s200/bible+study.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Again we make a turn. There is so much that I can share and I can write on. Earlier in these postings I did a series on Bible study methods. It seems the <a href="https://drschristianplace.blogspot.com/2011/09/abcd-bible-study-method.html">ABC system </a>is being well received.<br />
And many other subjects through the years have been handled. For this series I would like to return to discussing major subjects handled in the Bible.<br />
The book of Psalms chapter 8 verses states: "When I consider Your Heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained; what is man that you take thought of him.."<br />
No, I don't wish at this moment to unlock creation. Instead I wish to start to unlock us. MAN.<br />
Just what are we? Are we, as the secular says, a product of time and chance? And is so, why do we feel there is something different about us?<br />
Perhaps we are a special creation of a being greater than us.<br />
Maybe in the beginning God created us male and female and put us in a place known as Eden. Maybe this being greater than us, and uncreated being beyond time and space limitations, wanted to fellowship with us.<br />
That would make man different from the animals and the plants and other things.<br />
Let us call this being God. One greater than we can conceive.<br />
If this is so, man is special and asking what is an that you (God) take thought of him is a very important question to ask and answer.<br />
In the postings to come I hope to explore this deeply.<br />
I feel enough has been started here for you to consider.<br />
Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-6495778199065998702020-05-14T14:16:00.000-07:002020-05-14T15:26:25.979-07:00And Such Were You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJmmG7Sgh9KhwnJCXNwM57p04vdguO4z-0aCBPORPip3hvAkJ7AIu6c3mS50K4RKJjjht4o1JAl0Jm-7pR8kg0M3H_7K0PlpE_y-VOdbtCCEx5tug6Rs6YGvT1ij1vCKY7g01WIkwC9lJ/s1600/bible+study.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="372" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJmmG7Sgh9KhwnJCXNwM57p04vdguO4z-0aCBPORPip3hvAkJ7AIu6c3mS50K4RKJjjht4o1JAl0Jm-7pR8kg0M3H_7K0PlpE_y-VOdbtCCEx5tug6Rs6YGvT1ij1vCKY7g01WIkwC9lJ/s200/bible+study.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Another turn in our discussion.<br />
I am sure there are many out there who are reading this blog series and are fascinated by the many turns and subjects this whole blog has traveled since the start.<br />
Bible study methods- church beliefs both true and false religions, church offices, general subjects. Popes, Roman Catholicism, and so on.<br />
Seems the Bible study methods were the best read. I would conclude that there are a few out there who are interested in that topic. Great. Keep it up.<br />
Here is the new avenue we will travel down for a while.<br />
True conversion.. The requirement that Jesus gave to Nicodemus as recorded in John the third chapter. And yes, I will be using scripture in the Jewish/Christian Bible.<br />
So let me start:<br />
I have been a Christian now for-- let's see, 1968 to 2020, 52 years. I think that is enough time to have somehow accumulated some knowledge.<br />
No. If you have read my postings of many years ago you knw what I am talking about.<br />
I also posted a post on can God be known. <a href="https://drschristianplace.blogspot.com/2014/01/can-god-be-known.html">Click and go to that one.</a><br />
Back in 1968 I was at Taft College, journalism major. I got a phone call from home which was down the coast at Brentwood, California. My brother, Todd, had been killed in the Viet Nam war. He was a medic. The date was around March 13 when I received this call. I went home and went through the funeral. I found myself asking just where Todd, in death, was, heaven or the other place. Ie remember thinking of that passage in Job, "The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away." Okay. New Testament says that for a person to see heaven he must believe in Jesus. What does that mean? The Bible says that we are all sinners. "There is none righteous, no not one."<br />
I had been brought up in the Roman Catholic system, so I was somewhat used to the Bible. Never read it up to this point. The priest read it. the nuns taught it in school. Mostly Matthew and the first pope being Peter passage and the authority given to Peter to retain and forgive sins ( don't bother looking, there is none. That is one of the proof texts the Catholic system points to to try to prove something the Bible does not teach)<br />
Anyway. Jesus claimed to be the way to God and God was in heaven. If I was to be in heaven and with God when I died I had to come through Jesus. "I am the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me." He said. It is recorded in the Bible (And the Bible is Bod's communication to man) Also the Bible tells me that all who come to the Father must believe (receive) Jesus. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved."<br />
Enough for one posting. There will be more in the future.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuuNU6t2Xg90F9_8pq269BNt6sqZ7C4q7AqgoXtUMOXDcKXC3Lgmv2Oe0WzA5Fk4VECseZE_3DZ60D9W_ArFKqLYuZ4DE2nglQEqdytMOF2qtfG84vnMIDzaRD6fss2hUGw3KGAZ7pPgy/s1600/body+health.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuuNU6t2Xg90F9_8pq269BNt6sqZ7C4q7AqgoXtUMOXDcKXC3Lgmv2Oe0WzA5Fk4VECseZE_3DZ60D9W_ArFKqLYuZ4DE2nglQEqdytMOF2qtfG84vnMIDzaRD6fss2hUGw3KGAZ7pPgy/s200/body+health.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-44106240593613935852020-04-04T15:43:00.000-07:002020-04-04T15:43:27.449-07:00The Dividing Line<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5lQ5UrnJW0ZwFNlyQy9avmJ11sqn1H7sseLMs8W0G9oMclQnqk_dbp8kFrCBaw7SKjPkWucQudXQ9YlxRCoYHQhsm1VU0BwBUKYD1AtH99ySJf9mBhnA6sQiqTLGgsp5oz3hYhxCS95p/s1600/bible+study.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="372" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5lQ5UrnJW0ZwFNlyQy9avmJ11sqn1H7sseLMs8W0G9oMclQnqk_dbp8kFrCBaw7SKjPkWucQudXQ9YlxRCoYHQhsm1VU0BwBUKYD1AtH99ySJf9mBhnA6sQiqTLGgsp5oz3hYhxCS95p/s200/bible+study.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
I have discussed in an earlier posting "<a href="https://drschristianplace.blogspot.com/2020/04/why-there-can-be-no-union-with-roman.html">Why There Can be No Union With Roman Catholics"</a> why I feel evangelicals and Catholics are not combatable.<br />
I would like to further discuss that topic.<br />
It is not that today if you were to look around you would find belief wise in the life of the individual evangelical and the Catholic that much of what they would call different. In fact,, the ones that the protestant churches are losing to the Catholics seem to feel the need for more liturgy. This they seem to be able to find in the Catholic belief system.<br />
But the evangelical has the practice of Bible study and discussion groups.<br />
Well, the Catholics since Vatican 2 have been allowed to read the Bible for themselves. They better not try to interpret it on their own. They can read and discuss and use the authorized Catholic material provided. And when they have a question they , if they are good Catholics, need to go to their priest who will look up what the traditions of the church have determined want the passage is saying.<br />
The evangelical is allowed to discuss and prove all things using the Bible as the authority of what the meaning is. they don't have to have tradition of the church determine what the passage means or says. Sometimes they are wrong, They are allowed to be. Yet that is why they have commentaries and a pastor.<br />
And they also seek charismatic manifestation in worship.. that is both the evangelical and the Catholic The charismatic movement may be one reason for the confusion.<br />
Let's cut to the core problem.<br />
It is the statement 'saved by grace alone through faith alone.'<br />
That is saying God does the work. Grace is a gift. Faith is a gift.<br />
Not of works so no one may boast.<br />
Catholics add works. Grace plus works. And the works are the individuals.<br />
To add more heat to the fire.. it all goes back to a council. A council called Trent. It was here that the pronouncement was made by the Bishop of Rome, The Pope at that time, and the council who states that if anyone believed you were saved by faith alone without works and taught such was put under an anathema and consigned to hell. And on top of that the council was deemed infallible and irrevocable.<br />
So the Roman Church still holds that to be true. No sola scriptura. No sola gratia. No sola fide.<br />
Sorry, guys. They don't mix and stick together as a whole. I am referring to the evangelical and the Catholic.Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-53506681047242484822020-04-04T14:45:00.001-07:002020-04-27T17:42:37.995-07:00Further Help In Bible Study<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YAFSdKnxUhCWgLFifNkWbFu2QmAb6_28jFT9zgz7Qz0L13m2tFsfIDwJcc-vEKNUkdtycxWp7tOxOS5CUDhQu85Rhm7BUcJp-RTfgZN13F7G9l7XQD1KTKJC8cCl4ifHGVLwe7RLZExk/s1600/bible+study.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="372" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YAFSdKnxUhCWgLFifNkWbFu2QmAb6_28jFT9zgz7Qz0L13m2tFsfIDwJcc-vEKNUkdtycxWp7tOxOS5CUDhQu85Rhm7BUcJp-RTfgZN13F7G9l7XQD1KTKJC8cCl4ifHGVLwe7RLZExk/s200/bible+study.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
I know some of you out there are doing a research once again in my posts on bible study methods. I notice 3 have done a recent read of the ABCD Method of Bible Study again. For further suggestions I would refer you back to an earlier one I posted in 2017 on <a href="https://drschristianplace.blogspot.com/2017/09/chapter-study.html">Chapter study.</a> This may help you do more intensive study. The only way we are going to dig deep in our study is to use different methods so our study doesn't become mundane.<br />
I am happy to see that people are reading and interacting with this blog, for Your Information. Keep up the good work.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1224905&u=2296457&m=40674&urllink=&afftrack=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://static.shareasale.com/image/40674/Biblioblockad2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Search For Helpful Aids</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-10958581631791947442020-04-03T15:44:00.000-07:002020-04-27T17:49:05.104-07:00Why There Can Be No Union With Roman Catholics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gl36rVQnytUjtHveAxBE5yrIviGI1mgNTKI-3Mjaw1sFeEm0ndZwnyHc_oS-FLWY3ggRQbK95Ectf6TIlp7zGTxwhqhshwG7apNIiD2f5cSb3M6oV5k_upLXHwGkGrIzMrqEvDExC_v4/s1600/bible+study.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="372" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gl36rVQnytUjtHveAxBE5yrIviGI1mgNTKI-3Mjaw1sFeEm0ndZwnyHc_oS-FLWY3ggRQbK95Ectf6TIlp7zGTxwhqhshwG7apNIiD2f5cSb3M6oV5k_upLXHwGkGrIzMrqEvDExC_v4/s200/bible+study.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
This must be addressed by someone, and I have yet to see it.<br />
It is important because there are quite a lot of young promising Christian people, both male and female, who are drifting into the Roman Catholic Church feeling that the Roman Church is the "better way' to do Christianity.<br />
It is my contention it is not.<br />
Of course, I am assuming something primarily. That is that you are a Christian.<br />
Define terms.<br />
I was taught to define terms so that the one you are discussing things with is understanding what is being said.<br />
Christian. The way I define it is a person who has a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ.<br />
An Evangelical would say --a person who has been born again as Jesus explained to Nicodemus as recorded in John chapter 3. By grace through faith.<br />
On the other hand, a Catholic would say one is saved by grace plus works.<br />
Define grace.<br />
Sola gratia , which the evangelicals who are saved, means by grace alone. Without works. And then grace is not something we have. It is a gift from God.<br />
Let us look at that word <i>Evangelical</i>. <br />
It is a word the Protestants use because the term Protestant started to get a bad name.. Protestant is a name the Roman Church gave a group of people who didn't agree with them. <br />
But that is off the subject.<br />
A Catholic believes that the church is the authority to believe when it comes to proper study and understanding of what the Bible says. Since they believe, without any scriptural proof, just some idea the Pope came up with, that they were given the authority to determine what is and is not 'Bible".<br />
Let us use the term Christian for the other group, the one that consists of people who have a relationship with God through the finished work of Jesus Christ.<br />
The Christian says the Bible is complete and does not need to have a group of people decide what is or is not 'Bible'.<br />
Sola scriptura.<br />
And let us look at this question:. Is there salvation in the Catholic church? Not if you adhere to their teachings which are not able to be located in scripture. They base their understanding on scripture plus tradition as taught by the priest who is stating what tradition, or the church, has determined it means. They are lost, not able to guide the blind since they are one themselves.<br />
Enough for now. That is enough for a person to chew on. Be sure to leave a comment which I can see and respond to, if you desire to. If not, well, don't.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=390463&u=2296457&m=40674&urllink=&afftrack=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Free Shipping on Books at Biblio" border="0" src="https://static.shareasale.com/image/40674/Free-Shipping_180_150.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Research The Question</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-43189966202522120602020-02-14T13:41:00.000-08:002020-02-14T13:41:14.228-08:00Creation In Time<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxjfSyoo_fFg5R1NqYpdL8NK92UhSu9dEQReKtsS6Gu7LglIX4C1k_GZZRrYt0KwEUPPPCXd1K1GNOmkVWSFMZLTAKy3akP4leuVclHL2fXZVSc1dgKxQd7oHUPKvWXoY_kwAWLj7QaXP/s1600/earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="240" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxjfSyoo_fFg5R1NqYpdL8NK92UhSu9dEQReKtsS6Gu7LglIX4C1k_GZZRrYt0KwEUPPPCXd1K1GNOmkVWSFMZLTAKy3akP4leuVclHL2fXZVSc1dgKxQd7oHUPKvWXoY_kwAWLj7QaXP/s200/earth.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Created</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
<b>in the beginning-</b> Creation had a beginning. At a point of time, which was created at the same time as creation, the world came into being.<br />
The Bible informs us that it took six days to create all that is here. If the days were actual 24 hour periods of duration or periods of time, I am not going to discuss that here.<br />
Time is a product of creation. Before creation there was no time. Just eternity. eternity does not need time to measure it. It is outside of that restraint.<br />
God exists in eternity but also is not part of eternity.<br />
But that is for a further discussion in another post.<br />
And you may ask, if God is existing in eternity, why does He need to create in His creation of time?<br />
I think that HE wanted to share His Love. God is love. Love must have something to love.<br />
Sure, God exists in a trinity. Three in one. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.<br />
He wants to share His love with others. He wanted to share outside the Godhead. That is why He created angels. That is why He created man. These creations were in time.<br />
He wanted to share His love with those things He created.<br />
So he created with time. Both together. It takes time for true love to work out.<br />
Keep those messages coming. I enjoy posting these posts and would like to know how you are enjoying them. If no response after a period of time, like say, three weeks, I will move on to other subjects to post under<b> For Your Information.</b>Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-26149710463922951592020-02-13T11:43:00.000-08:002020-02-13T11:43:17.688-08:00God Has Decreed<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitopveU3Wze_2kGyJG27Z-DsBe0bZmvZB2F5aXd9k0W8so1qhtg9MD3imYQM3JLu9yLK5o9suhR0sSc1wVEFewQ0vzX50lBL1eE3wfFBWvz0ovDidG4z8C8Yak5kjr1gt0htmGporhyqkb/s1600/bible+study.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="372" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitopveU3Wze_2kGyJG27Z-DsBe0bZmvZB2F5aXd9k0W8so1qhtg9MD3imYQM3JLu9yLK5o9suhR0sSc1wVEFewQ0vzX50lBL1eE3wfFBWvz0ovDidG4z8C8Yak5kjr1gt0htmGporhyqkb/s200/bible+study.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bible Says</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This is a subject that not many preachers preach on, but it is in the Bible.<br />
This doctrine is found mainly in the Reformed Theology books and the Presbyterians hold to a form of it.<br />
As I understand it, God has decreed certain things. God decreed to create. He decreed to give man free will with which he, man, can choose to obey or disobey.<br />
In His decreeing it is not the same as the action. If God decreed and there was no free will, man would only be a puppet. God would pull the strings and man would jump.<br />
There is the decree to save those who come to God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.<br />
Jesus said, I am the door. I am the way. No one comes to God but through Me.<br />
God allowed sin to come into the world. I don't see him as someone cruel enough to decree sin and then walk away.. He is not responsible for man's disobedience. Man must pay the penalty for his disobedience. And that penalty is recorded in Romans 6:23- which is death, or separation from God.<br />
The decreed is not the act. Let me keep saying that.<br />
He has decreed that all who come to God are saints. Not perfect but forgiven sinners who will spend eternity in heaven.<br />
Please, respond to me. I promise to answer as soon as I can.<br />
<br />Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-17224484183807157462020-02-03T17:59:00.000-08:002020-02-03T17:59:02.235-08:00In Six DaysThe Bible tells us it took God only six days to bring the earth, as we know it with plants, animals, fish, trees, man, into existence. Some hold to a big bang theory.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sIvNLLQpwrU8piu2cR9JIMiGpuHxZOHfVpKGDV4Z1kmd8zEvIJgIZ9H7MJddjTrCdSU2LtnI_NJB5xQ1lKL0ZVe-g_94UB8KaBKt79hna4m00Dif0y1TEyqxpNucKpon4q__cj4xquWE/s1600/earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="240" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sIvNLLQpwrU8piu2cR9JIMiGpuHxZOHfVpKGDV4Z1kmd8zEvIJgIZ9H7MJddjTrCdSU2LtnI_NJB5xQ1lKL0ZVe-g_94UB8KaBKt79hna4m00Dif0y1TEyqxpNucKpon4q__cj4xquWE/s200/earth.jpg" width="200" /></a>Without God,there is n o way it could have happened. It just couldn't have. Even a false idea of a big bang is hard to believe if there wasn't a first cause. It had to be a cause for which there is no cause.<br />
The first people were Adam and Eve. Of course the Hebrew words Ish and Isha may only infer male and female and Adam only refers to man and Eve is the mother of all born, But come on now, allow the Bible to say what it says.<br />
Since it is God breathed, that is, God spoke it, it is truth. I don't see anything like a mistranslation.<br />
Itsays six days. Evening and morning were the first day. note- the day is counted from night and day not day and night. This is he Hebrwew way of day,. Night coming before day.<br />
Were these days like 24 hours each or a mass period of time? The reference to night and day seem to suggest they were a specific period of time and not long eras.<br />
Were these real people? Yes.<br />
Did it really happen? Yes.<br />
Keep up your Bible study and feel free to comment to me. I would like to hear from you.<br />
<br />Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-78314041250154977362020-02-01T10:53:00.002-08:002020-02-01T10:53:52.308-08:00A Line To The Almighty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6KBI7Fb5nrAwU8NTism8X7hJ1XVf79u0cNdniwrfLUv7sgUXWTBN3sFte_WBGoXmQP560CLFpvRtHAGMUfmHm5OX53rNqRekd6O6VSEs27hD76GrKZCLWJ2tAlA3oalIFZJbeGCMIVzD/s1600/prayer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6KBI7Fb5nrAwU8NTism8X7hJ1XVf79u0cNdniwrfLUv7sgUXWTBN3sFte_WBGoXmQP560CLFpvRtHAGMUfmHm5OX53rNqRekd6O6VSEs27hD76GrKZCLWJ2tAlA3oalIFZJbeGCMIVzD/s200/prayer.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
A long time ago I posted on this subject. Labels with prayer mentioned in them keep popping up. So I guess it is time, once again, to mention the subject.<br />
Everyone prays. The eastern belief system refers to this as chanting instead of prayer. And I realize it is not the same, but they chanters expect to make contact with some spiritual being whom they hope will happen to help them.<br />
No, prayer ,as I am talking about it, true prayer, is only done successfully by the Christian.<br />
Definition: Christian. One who has a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, whom has said, No one comes to the Father by through me.<br />
Of course you would want to talk to God if you have a relationship. Just as you would talk to a friend.<br />
What should you talk to Him about? Everything. Your day's events. Your worries. Your joys. Your needs.<br />
He wants to hear from you. He is waiting to hear your voice.<br />
Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.<br />
It is a line to the Almighty.<br />
When you have a relationship with Him it is like you belong to a family. If you are normal you talk to your family. In return your family talks to you.<br />
God talks to those who have a relationship with Him by the Bible. God overshadowed the writers and what we have is what He wants to communicate. I think that is a great deal.<br />
Please consider talking to God on a more regular basis. But to be heard you must have a relationship with Him. Otherwise He is not obligated to hear and answer.Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-74821889468974924282020-01-17T13:38:00.003-08:002020-01-17T13:38:53.438-08:00Being A Deacon Has Honor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPLwc9xBsDIAKy893-tjI3L66dZZWqpGcFhyUgyHfSfocwVqk9_-9k3Jz9fq5lF3w4Ft8Q_bbkK7yPm5Db73CuAOBWFeTSSm1lDOV8ht5oEns1ltgl9jwaZ_1r5RWtyJIvYvgS631Mt7P/s1600/deacon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPLwc9xBsDIAKy893-tjI3L66dZZWqpGcFhyUgyHfSfocwVqk9_-9k3Jz9fq5lF3w4Ft8Q_bbkK7yPm5Db73CuAOBWFeTSSm1lDOV8ht5oEns1ltgl9jwaZ_1r5RWtyJIvYvgS631Mt7P/s200/deacon.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
I was doing my morning devotions and I was do my study in First Timothy. In chapter three it details what an overseer and a deacon should have as qualifications. Since, as I see it, it is a great responsibility to be either an overseer or a deacon. They don't seem to be the same although the requirements seem close. But as leaders, they should be someone you can look up to for direction. So they are important positions.<br />
I don't see them as the elder. Requirements for an elder come in chapter four.<br />
Only here and I guess in Titus is a deacon mentioned. They appear in the life of the church when the tables needed to be waited upon. There they were set up to help the apostles. Today they are set ujp to help the pastor.<br />
Deacons should not try to dominate or take the place of the pastor. They don't run the church. They weren't set up to do so and are not presently in that position.<br />
Honor comes in the way they conduct themselves. Details are given in first Timothy and in Titus. These two letters were written by Paul to pastors who were ministering in newly formed Churches. They are still good letters to read for the purpose of forming up a new or established deacon and overseer. Therefore, it is worthy of being studyed.Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-52630637233255674622019-12-27T14:32:00.000-08:002019-12-27T14:32:21.304-08:00New Year Coming<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0gDVQ9yS4dueHtBCN-n8BP47c05r24bgv1JecIWAqcRDN9dOjcHavF81DoKRJe53vsPsNf4pLJSET1BLsyofLjUh4fLHTRq3Ky2q0ZNnv-iZIHNek6xU2IqXc2kUeDABmxA0uGTTmsKu/s1600/flag.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="361" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0gDVQ9yS4dueHtBCN-n8BP47c05r24bgv1JecIWAqcRDN9dOjcHavF81DoKRJe53vsPsNf4pLJSET1BLsyofLjUh4fLHTRq3Ky2q0ZNnv-iZIHNek6xU2IqXc2kUeDABmxA0uGTTmsKu/s320/flag.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long May It Wave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A new year is coming. 2020 is around the corner. God has been good to America. We don't deserve it. Not after the way we are treating Him. We were founded, true, not as a Christian Bible based experiment but most of our original documents, which have been parsed and parsed so many times to be practically meaningless, were based on the idea that we had a blessing of a supreme being over us. We based our documents on there being standards that are God given and as such can't be taken away by government. Such standards as right and wrong. Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, not given by the state. For if the state gave us these rights they can be taken back by the state. No. God gave us these three rights and only God can take them back.<br />
So 2020 is before us. Don't allow the state or even the government in Washington DC to take away your rights. A chance to prove what you can do is fine. But there is no right to sponge off the cities and nation you live in. Work ethics is good. Pan handling is not a right.<br />
Helping others get back on their feet and become productive is right. The state taking money from your pocket to do programs for the ones who won't work, that is questionable at best, and down right stealing at the worst.<br />
I have more to say but I will allow this to seep into your mind first before I venture to share them.Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-65873324878744756322019-08-29T15:02:00.001-07:002019-08-29T15:02:28.347-07:00A Deeper Way Of Study<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9MDDWvSEZyEMj6gIJ7gWgqtgfckNh6vx7bQ6WniAPUqZPDEDVUj6VREOk7f69fm78uP58-pQJI0slxD0nmj007XJlEHfl7gp7yBRzCEfCSfWs5Fkl-7jegsLbOerDa5sJ3C5AxdPHUM9/s1600/bible+study.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="372" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9MDDWvSEZyEMj6gIJ7gWgqtgfckNh6vx7bQ6WniAPUqZPDEDVUj6VREOk7f69fm78uP58-pQJI0slxD0nmj007XJlEHfl7gp7yBRzCEfCSfWs5Fkl-7jegsLbOerDa5sJ3C5AxdPHUM9/s200/bible+study.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Now this is an more advance way of study. Maybe not for the beginner, but I would keep this one in mind as I seek to grow in my understanding and depth in my Christian walk.<br />
I have started this the last few months. To do this one you will need a note book to record your observations. A pen to write with is needed. You won't just be reading without responding. Maybe for a while you will be responding to the passages as if you were journaling. In fact you should be able, over time, to look back and trace your growth.<br />
For you will grow using this method.<br />
It goes without saying you will need a good version of the scriptures. NASB, NIV, English Standard, etc. Yes, even the King James helps. Or the NKJ. Just a good version that is readable.<br />
I take a chapter at a time. Once a day. I don't rush. I ask what is here? Who is speaking? Who is he speaking to? What is the context? I record as if I were seeing this for the first time. I keep remembering I am not reading a 21st century book. It meant something to those who read it for the first time. Look at it as it meant then.<br />
Just what was the impact?<br />
You will need a good book on Bible times to refer to. Maybe even a concordance to look up words and see how they were first used.<br />
Using this method you will end up comparing scripture with scripture. When was the word first used? What did it mean when used that first time?<br />
I told you this was advanced. It will take more than a few moments. But you can also break your devotion time down into segments so you may not do a full chapter a day. But you keep with it day by day until you finish that book.<br />
I hope you are enjoying the methods discussion of this blog. It seems some are.<br />
You can always search this blog. I am sure all the postings are there.Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-10527435527982587722019-07-06T11:08:00.001-07:002019-07-06T11:08:50.728-07:00Growing in Bible Understanding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh2fp2qu4xAcsqvyArFf5ZwQN7rGtiYipkWqRex9ETV_SRiTz9Y1pFmOmGcLlJRXBhi3psXyT3ypUZ9sGH8go-bMSJXhOfkkg4xVL-SJaOue1wl6cvTn0aWyY5-Qqe13X6tYQW_2gV7Mj/s1600/worship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="276" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh2fp2qu4xAcsqvyArFf5ZwQN7rGtiYipkWqRex9ETV_SRiTz9Y1pFmOmGcLlJRXBhi3psXyT3ypUZ9sGH8go-bMSJXhOfkkg4xVL-SJaOue1wl6cvTn0aWyY5-Qqe13X6tYQW_2gV7Mj/s200/worship.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Well, I am still going to use this blog for the purpose of furthering your study of God's communication to us, the Bible.<br />
The method I am talking about this time is devotions.<br />
To do this properly you will need a good Bible, a pencil or pen and a note book. You may also need a commentary or a good handbook of the Bible.<br />
Chose a book of the Bible that you can spend time studying.<br />
The pen or pencil is for marking up the Bible. A well read Bible is a well marked up Bible.<br />
You will be asking what is being said here? Who is speaking? You will be marking in your Bible the key word in each portion.<br />
I suggest you do a paragraph at a time this works well, but the idea is not speed. Or maybe a chapter at a time.<br />
The notebook is to jot down what it is you are discovering. Also what you are noticing. Record the repetition of a certain word. You may find it repeats in another chapter. Note that. It is important .<br />
Use the handbook for background and context.<br />
Always search context. Don't take day dreaming trips. The Bible is not written in twenty-first century context.<br />
Use the commentary to understand if you are on the right track in the deduction you are making.<br />
Stay with it. Dig as in mining for precious ore.<br />
And may your understanding of God grow as you do so.Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-7979606168962355072019-07-05T13:53:00.000-07:002019-07-05T13:53:23.856-07:00Gender MisunderstandingCome on now. really? You don't know your gender?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28ZXk1Azt3GDWkOhqQSg9MCeCJg9svfoBlRD2Nm2_U-xIBakahxmB4kvEr9YgN8JeF5L-SGv9EGdc6zyHoogDrbUTN5uaHEIxvhFfMpzlpiBDrwmbExZw8v1nj4poPYn63Ec8qzHZbMzW/s1600/gender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="211" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28ZXk1Azt3GDWkOhqQSg9MCeCJg9svfoBlRD2Nm2_U-xIBakahxmB4kvEr9YgN8JeF5L-SGv9EGdc6zyHoogDrbUTN5uaHEIxvhFfMpzlpiBDrwmbExZw8v1nj4poPYn63Ec8qzHZbMzW/s200/gender.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
There are really only two. Two? Yes, you heard right.<br />
In the beginning God created you in your mothers womb. He made no mistake. Your gender is rather male or female. He didn't look down and say, "Opps, I think I made a mistake there. I meant to create a non-binary person.)<br />
Who told you differently?<br />
Who ever it was is wrong. Or they maybe need to go back to basic biology.<br />
Somewhere along the line you were scammed. And you bought it. Or if you haven't your friend or person you know who is trying to tell you some time between the planting of the sperm in the egg something happened to the fetus and you were the result--a non-binary person.<br />
I look at myself in the mirror each morning as I shave and thank God I am a person who in this respect is not confused as to gender.<br />
The last time I looked God did not pop out a non-binary gene.<br />
Someone, let me repeat, has fooled you.<br />
There is no reason for you to run out and have a penis looped off or a breast removed or added.<br />
The problem is in the way you are thinking. And you are thinking this way because you have come to believe something without the proper investigation.<br />
Don't accept everything at face value. Don't always trust what people say.<br />
Wait until you are thinking correctly before you make a move.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-51167441566523143132019-06-15T11:54:00.002-07:002019-06-15T11:54:48.975-07:00Immigration Reform Needed <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p5LJulEZk_DRWf22NhgDt4XCzXXHVAltxWlCNyxtw-fVokoT8XheezTrR-IF4AlTLusXQst33iaHYaJJYGsyOzAVjJzsD3FpiGYsD6qwOA7PUcSBbb2NKR8D31UdHPlmrgUTCSStBhsy/s1600/immigation.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p5LJulEZk_DRWf22NhgDt4XCzXXHVAltxWlCNyxtw-fVokoT8XheezTrR-IF4AlTLusXQst33iaHYaJJYGsyOzAVjJzsD3FpiGYsD6qwOA7PUcSBbb2NKR8D31UdHPlmrgUTCSStBhsy/s200/immigation.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Now this blog will, I hope, for a while center on the issue of immigration. We need reform of our laws and we need them fast.<br />
I don't feel at the present time we are looking at the gift of immigration correctly.<br />
President Trump's current push to use ICE as a punishing arm of the government is wrong. We need the immigrant; Persian, Russian, Greek, South African, Mexican, and so on to keep our economy going. Not all Americans are stepping up and doing the manual labor and back breaking labor needed to get our fruits and vegetables among other things to market to sell.<br />
And also some of our work force. Our scientists, our doctors, our lawyers, etc.<br />
What is needed is for someone to step up and help those skilled immigrants and, yes, unskilled, to get green cards and then work to get citizenship as soon as possible.<br />
True, we need a vet them. Both of us can gain from their presence. We shouldn't be dividing families in doing so. Show them all how to work within the system to become citizens.<br />
It is also a misuse of our troops to spend time nitpicking.<br />
The illegal immigrant came here for a reason. We are seen as the best chance they have to achieve independence from oppression,<br />
Sure, we don't need criminals but we do need people who are willing to work for what they can achieve.<br />
No, we don't need more on the governments' bankroll (Which is another subject for later).<br />
We need immigration reform and we need to come into the twenty-first century and show more compassion for the world around us.<br />
Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-88052153761843168712019-06-13T13:53:00.000-07:002019-06-13T13:53:31.989-07:00New Year. New Subjects It has been quite a while since I have been here and posting. I somehow get the feeling I am texting to myself. Why? Because I get little, if any, feed back and less suggestion on what areas I should be covering so that you, the reader, will keep coming back again and again.<br />
So that may be one reason I spend little time posing under this blog, For Your Information.<br />
In the past I have acted as a guide for your Bible study time ( If you do study the Bible and find the help useful.) (Have gotten no feedback except for the number of hits that are recorded behind the curtain, so to speak, for each posting)<br />
I do enjoy ,or I should say, have enjoyed doing so but even I need feedback to feel I am being useful. And that you need it.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fUYS-sSY7NmuxtQN93-Iek6C72zhfK4Bw-QcK226TDutWOtUTz8vr-elZkizwbgVh2hYFiIhpVTHGewB-0nZvZVq46Y4qzIQMktvUPXAXv4O9Zaa_B6uqJ9vpUAENRHUtdYhriSm5MB9/s1600/SM+street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fUYS-sSY7NmuxtQN93-Iek6C72zhfK4Bw-QcK226TDutWOtUTz8vr-elZkizwbgVh2hYFiIhpVTHGewB-0nZvZVq46Y4qzIQMktvUPXAXv4O9Zaa_B6uqJ9vpUAENRHUtdYhriSm5MB9/s200/SM+street.jpg" width="200" /></a> So for 2019 onward I will broaden my area of coverage. I will blog on areas on my interest, and hope that from time to time I may just be talking in an area that interests you. And how am I to know these areas?<br />
Hopefully you will be telling me. And if you were to leave your email address we may even be able to strike up an email conversation.<br />
Now that is an idea.<br />
It will only work if there is a connection made.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4HS5HH_kTo24hDDOzJ9efUj0GhhhAB8sLx5lRCwwIby9dMQvIQ-MtbDutj6w_EvpHJz9d52fAJR1SDN7Yr2u22g9josTB2jnzTyPIG_bfvDL5T38XDbxVDx7nDw__x02_2DFAuDHkZu7/s1600/books-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> So first I would like to talk about reading. Reading is becoming a lost art. When I talk or post about reading I am talking about books. Not e-books. I am talking about real books of weight. Books that can be held in the hand and pages that can be turned. The things you go to real brick and mortar places and you spend time browsing stacks of literature and non-literature until you find that one book that is calling out to you to be read.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4HS5HH_kTo24hDDOzJ9efUj0GhhhAB8sLx5lRCwwIby9dMQvIQ-MtbDutj6w_EvpHJz9d52fAJR1SDN7Yr2u22g9josTB2jnzTyPIG_bfvDL5T38XDbxVDx7nDw__x02_2DFAuDHkZu7/s1600/books-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="296" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4HS5HH_kTo24hDDOzJ9efUj0GhhhAB8sLx5lRCwwIby9dMQvIQ-MtbDutj6w_EvpHJz9d52fAJR1SDN7Yr2u22g9josTB2jnzTyPIG_bfvDL5T38XDbxVDx7nDw__x02_2DFAuDHkZu7/s200/books-2.png" width="200" /> </a> I have another blog that I use to handle book reviews of books I have found worthy of being read by others. Not that I am trying to say I know good books when I see them. Yet I do think I have some intelligence when it comes to good stories.<br />
The Santa Monica Library has what they call a Santa Monica Read each year around summer time. So reading a real book is important.<br />
Now I am not a big lover of graphic novels as they remind me of comic books more than a progressive form of book presentation.<br />
I like to use my imagination when I approach a story. Seeing pictures and cartons is not the same as allowing words to flow through my brain and igniting the imagination cells in my cortex.<br />
More blogs to come with more flow of subjects. Stay tuned and continue to have that nice day.<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4HS5HH_kTo24hDDOzJ9efUj0GhhhAB8sLx5lRCwwIby9dMQvIQ-MtbDutj6w_EvpHJz9d52fAJR1SDN7Yr2u22g9josTB2jnzTyPIG_bfvDL5T38XDbxVDx7nDw__x02_2DFAuDHkZu7/s1600/books-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8769380279871782529.post-32583904980358444502018-10-07T15:19:00.000-07:002018-10-07T15:19:58.789-07:00Should Politics be in The Sermon on Sunday Morning?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq-zGvymijbkZM_jO9JY9YLgj-6OrDgHZaskaVrPRnjhzdHvkIU0o8Vlp084L9uCd7u1_Q1iOXQGsgJEeGQSYfJhLDwoP_BxrBvQ4xJyP7Ej4S6ygM85ADtYhyP2MG9RZK4b7jplrYG3_/s1600/church-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="217" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq-zGvymijbkZM_jO9JY9YLgj-6OrDgHZaskaVrPRnjhzdHvkIU0o8Vlp084L9uCd7u1_Q1iOXQGsgJEeGQSYfJhLDwoP_BxrBvQ4xJyP7Ej4S6ygM85ADtYhyP2MG9RZK4b7jplrYG3_/s200/church-3.png" width="187" /></a></div>
I have been quiet about this . But when I go to my Sunday Service as a good Christian should, I expect to hear from the pastor a well thought out sermon from the Bible. I don't go to service to hear political views or rants about what is happening in the Senate or Supreme Court of the United States.<br />
Not even in the introduction to the sermon.<br />
I was taught the sermon outline goes from the secular to the sacred. To rant about Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford and the addition of Kavanaugh to the nine judges, and then go into a sermon on the church is just not something I think belongs in the pulpit.<br />
A person goes to the service on Sunday to hear from God and His Word as researched and developed by a man who has made the ministry his profession.<br />
Very few , if any, preachers are also political-science experts. And the congregation should not be going to the service to get their weekly politics from.<br />
A wise wife has been reported to have said to her husband who was the pastor of a church, "you are the pastor. Many pastors have lead their congregations to hell.' Which may mean people tend to follow the pastor and what he says, feeling that he must know.<br />
Politics should not be... let me say it again,.. must not be mixed in with the sermon.<br />
In conversation, yes. Politics can be spoke of. Dane Swansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03374340099795666042noreply@blogger.com0