This was a Romantic comedy film set in Los Angeles, California. Roberts played the only important female character. The story of Pretty Woman centers on the down-on-her-luck Hollywood prostitute Vivian Ward who is hired by a wealthy businessman, Edward Lewis, to be his escort for several business and social functions, and their developing relationship over the course of Vivian’s week-long stay with him.

Originally intended to be a dark drama about prostitution in New York City, this motion picture was reconceived as romantic comedy with a large budget. It was widely successful at the box office, and it became one of the highest moneymakers of 1990.

Apparently the film was more of a success by telling a lie than being honest.  Try and compare that story with its happy ending to the following testimony.  In the picture is a poor lost soul whose legs are riddled with injection marks.  Her right leg I suspect is bandaged because of infection due to her drug taking.

Brent Stirton of South Africa won the first prize Contemporary Issues Singles category. This photo shows Maria, a drug addict and sex worker, in between clients in a room she rents in Kryvyi Rig, Ukraine. Maria, injects drugs on a daily basis and sees many men every week but claims she remains HIV negative. She says she need the money to support herself, her drug habit and her nine-year-old daughter

The truth behind the fantasy of Porn by someone who was there

by Shelley Lubben – Former Porn Actress

http://www.shelleylubben.com

Sex-packed porn films featuring freshly-dyed blondes whose evocative eyes say “I want you” are quite possibly one of the greatest deceptions of all time. Trust me, I know. I did it all the time and I did it for the lust of power and the love of money. I never liked sex. I never wanted sex and in fact I was more apt to spend time with Jack Daniels than some of the studs I was paid to “fake it” with. That’s right none of us freshly-dyed blondes like doing porn. In fact, we hate it. We hate being touched by strangers who care nothing about us. We hate being degraded with their foul smells and sweaty bodies. Some women hate it so much you can hear them vomiting in the bathroom between scenes. Others can be found outside smoking an endless chain of Marlboro lights…

But the porn industry wants YOU to think we porn actresses love sex. They want you to think we enjoy being degraded by all kinds of repulsive acts. The truth, porn actresses have showed up on the set not knowing about certain requirements and were told by porn producers to do it or leave without being paid. Work or never work again. Yes, we made the choice. Some of us needed the money. But we were manipulated and coerced and even threatened. Some of us caught HIV from that coercion. I personally caught Herpes, a non-curable sexually transmitted disease. Another porn actress went home after a long night of numbing her pain and put a pistol to her head and pulled the trigger. Now she’s dead.

It’s safe to say most women who turn to porn acting as a money-making enterprise, probably didn’t grow up in healthy childhoods either. Indeed, many actresses admit they’ve experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse, verbal abuse and neglect by parents. Some were raped by relatives and molested by neighbors. When we were little girls we wanted to play with dollies and be mommies, not have big scary men get on top of us. So we were taught at a young age that sex made us valuable. The same horrible violations we experienced then, we relive through as we perform our tricks for you in front of the camera. And we hate every minute of it. We’re traumatized little girls living on anti-depressants, drugs and alcohol acting out our pain in front of YOU who continue to abuse us.

As we continue to traumatize ourselves by making more adult films, we use more and more drugs and alcohol. We live in constant fear of catching AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. Every time there’s an HIV scare we race to the nearest clinic for an emergency checkup. Pornographers insist giving viewers the fantasy sex they demand all the while sacrificing the very ones who make it happen. In other words, no condoms allowed. Herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and other diseases are the normal anxieties we walk around with daily. We get tested monthly but we know testing isn’t prevention. Besides worrying about catching diseases from porn sex, there are other harmful activities we engage in that are also very dangerous. Some of us have had physical tearing and damage to internal body parts.

When porn actresses call it a day and head home we attempt to have normal healthy relationships but some of our boyfriends get jealous and physically abuse us. So instead we marry our porn directors while others of us prefer lesbian relationships. It’s a real memory making moment when our daughter accidentally walks out and sees mommy kissing another girl. My daughter will vouch for that one.

On our days off we walk around like zombies with a beer in one hand and a shot of whiskey in the other. We aren’t up to cleaning so we live in filth most of the time or we hire a sweet foreign lady to come in and clean up our mess. Porn Actresses aren’t the best cooks either. Ordering food in is normal for us and most of the time we throw up after we eat because we’re bulimic.

For porn actresses who have children, we are the world’s WORST mothers. We yell and scream and hit our kids for no reason. Most of the time we are intoxicated or high and our four year olds are the ones picking us up off the floor. When clients come over for sex, we lock our children in their rooms and tell them to be quiet. I use to give my daughter a beeper and tell her to wait at the park until I was finished.

The truth is there IS NO fantasy in porn. It’s all a lie. A closer look into the scenes of a porn star’s life will show you a movie porn doesn’t want you to see. The real truth is we porn actresses want to end the shame and trauma of our lives but we can’t do it alone. We need you men to fight for our freedom and give us back our honor. We need you to hold us in your strong arms while we sob tears over our deep wounds and begin to heal. We want you throw out our movies and help piece together the shattered fragments of our lives. We need you to pray for us the next fifteen years so God will hear and repair our ruined lives.

So don’t believe the lie anymore. Porn is nothing more than fake sex and lies on videotape. Trust me, I know.

Dedicated to all the porn actresses who caught HIV, died from drug overdose and committed suicide.

http://www.blazinggrace.org/cms/bg/truthbehindfantasyporn

Reblogged from UC Ministries Blog:

There was a time when marriages of kings and queens were by arrangement.  This usually meant someone travelling to the court with an image or portrait of the attended.  The image in question was always better looking than the real thing.  Often when the two did meet it was just prior to the wedding.  The reality was never quite the same as the portrait. Say a friend comes to your door with a present.  It’s a picture of your wife he says.  You eagerly open the parcel, tear away the paper and behold …

The greatest love afffair in the history of this world

Came across this from a Roman Catholic source.  It may be imaginary but it is nevertheless  VERY VERY real for so many.

MONTH ONE… Hi Mommy I am only 3/4 of inch long. But I have all my organs. I love the sound of your voice. Every time I hear it, I wave my arms and legs. The sound of your heartbeat Is my favorite lullaby.

MONTH TWO… Mommy Today I learned how to suck my thumb. If you could see me you could definitely tell that I am a baby. Im not big enough to survive outside my home though. It is so nice and warm in here.

MONTH THREE… You know what mommy, I’m a boy,I hope that makes you happy. I always want you to be happy. I don’t like it when you cry. You sound so sad.It makes me sad too. And I cry with you even though you cant hear me.

MONTH FOUR… Mommy my hair is starting to grow. It is very short and fine.But I will have a lot of it.I spend a lot of my time exercising. I can turn my head and curly my fingers and toes and stretch my arms and legs. I am becoming quite good at it too.

MONTH FIVE… You went to the doctor today, Mommy, he lied to you. He said that I’m not a baby. I am a baby mommy, your baby. I think and feel. Mommy, what’s abortion?

MONTH SIX… I can hear that doctor again, I dont like him. He seems cold and heartless. Something is intruding my home. The doctor called it a needle. Mommy what is it? I burns? Please make him stop, I cant get away from it. Mommy help me..

MONTH SEVEN… Mommy, I am okay. I am in Jesus  arms. He is holding me. He told me about abortion. Why didn’t you want me Mommy?

You wake up in the Morning.  Do you just lie there until someone tells you to get up?  Then do you wait until that voice tells who where to move too, the right side of the bed or the left?  Having got up, do you wait to be told what to put on or do you naturally make a choice as to which clothes to wear.

It’s that fundamental in nature that we make choices every single moment of the day and never think twice about it.  Choices are the basis of free will.  We have the capacity and rational to make logical or even illogical choices.   Will it be the green coat or the red coat?  My next door neighbour does not make my choices I do.  When we are young it might be mum or dad,.

Do we travel taking the bus or the car?  Do we go out the front door or the backdoor?  Do we lock the door or walk away with the door open?  Now we don’t wait to be told these things as adults, but we learn about these things as we grow up.  Having learned we come to appreciate the necessity of doing thinks.  We do them because they benefit us or make us happy.  It is the freedom to make those choices which is important. 

To obey the law or not to obey the law and we have the freedom to choose!. 

Now the opposite of free will are drones mindless robots that wait to be told when to do something.  They don’t make choices because they can’t, and they have no capacity or logic to do so.

Atheist will ask mockingly that if God is so powerful why does he not come down to solve all mankind’s problem.   However what they are really saying is God come down and show yourself so that we might believe.  Do some miracles and wonders so that you will convince us of you Majesty.  This is nothing more than tempting God to perform like some trained seal, or some circus clown juggling before a group of school kids.  However it also strikes at a deeper issue.  Whilst God has indeed intervened in many occasions it is also tempered with wisdom. 

Let me explain!!

God also has no intention in having the human race dancing like some puppet on strings.  He regards mans free will as sacrosanct, because only by having it will we learn.  Adam was Gods physical and spiritual head of Mankind.  He was Gods governor on this planet.  He gave him intelligence, a rational to see a problem and the thinking capacity to try and solve it.  He gave a heart to sympathise with the issue and seek a ways to improve it.  Does this mean that its hands of for God?  No God is very much involved in the day to day running of this planet.  But when it comes to his governor and thus mankind as a whole he will work within limitation. 

For example one nation wants to wage a war against another nation.  How does God stop it?  Does he stoop down and in some mighty demonstration physically restrain both nations as they close for battle and if so what would the consequences to free will and self determination?  Would God not suddenly become a referee blowing his whistle every time someone makes a  wrong choice?   

Then further to this what happens every time a dispute arises, every argument, and every conflict.  The call will be where  is the referee ; we need the referee to stop this.  In such a case would we ever learn to become the instrument in stopping it?  Would we ever learn the horror of what to avoid? Would we learn to choose peace instead of war?  God does not want mindless drones, he wants thinking people who can learn the values that God has laid down.  To make logical and righteous choices which were born out of experiences?

He may work through men to bring a diplomatic end of the war.  He may open the eyes of those who plan it to see the cost of such a war.   So God can and does work within our limitations to further his plans for good.  That might be the skill a surgeon in operating on a patient, or the compassion for the care of the elderly.

Free will is being given choices.  Just as Adam and Eve were given the choice of certain trees, we learn by been given choices.  At every turn those choices present themselves before us.  Thereby we GROW, LEARN EVALUATE, THINK REASON and eventually MATURE and God knows that.  If he was to physically stop man from injuring his toe on a stone, we would never learn to wear shoes or avoid the stone.  If he was to stop us from saying wrong things would we ever learn the wisdom of what not to say and the kindness of what to say.

Other side of this is that man has the free will to choose to mock and deride God; But God also has the right to judge his creation for breaking those boundaries.  With free will comes the responsibility in how we use it.  Free will is not a co blanched to do what we like and not bother with the cost.  With free will comes the responsibility, do I choose to obey God or do I choose to do whatever I want?   Thereby we are responsible before God in how we act.

The history of mankind is the history of learning, progressing individually and corporately.  Part of which is coming to know God. All through the Bible God has used examples drawn from historical context to teach his people wisdom and to give understanding.  To characterise his nature and his hatred of sin;

Sin for many is nothing more than a choice of their free will to reject Gods laws; but for God it is the wilful disharmony of what he has created; Rebellion against what is truly good,.  It will cause nothing but chaos and ruination. Free will is therefore a precious and lasting gift to his creation, and not something to be spurned or lost.

Raymond Victor Franz(May 8, 1922 – June 2, 2010) was a member of the  Governing body of Jehovah Witness from 20 October 1971 until 22 May 1980, and served at the organization’s  headquaters for fifteen years, from 1965 until 1980.   Raymond Uncle was Fred Franz who was vice president of the Watchtower and later to become its president.  From 1945- 1977 and was replaced by Nathan H. Knorr in 1977.  So Raymond was well placed to tell it like it was.

In his book Crisis of conscience  he had this to say:

“In many cases it was not some unkind treatment they themselves experienced that disturbed them; it was seeing such treatment meted out to others, seeing people suffer because of the rigidity, narrow-mindedness, even arrogance of men in charge, elders and others, or recognizing the hurtful effects of certain edicts of the organization that did not rest on a solid Scriptural foundation. Rather than disgruntled, vindictive complainers, they have simply pleaded for greater compassion, a closer adherence to the example of God’s own Son, the Master of the Christian household of faith. This feeling for others is, I believe, a decisive factor as to the genuineness of motive. Similarly, a concern for truth, a concern not to be guilty of misrepresenting God’s own Word, a concern not to be hypocritical in appearing to believe what they do not believe, support what they cannot conscientiously support, condemn what they cannot see that Scripture itself condemns—such concern is, I think, also determinative as to genuineness of motive of any taking such a stand. I know many persons who clearly evidence such concern, yet who are labeled as “apostates,” “antichrists,” “instruments of Satan.”

 In case after case after case, the sole basis for such demnation is that they could not honestly agree with all the organization’s teachings or policies. I feel an obligation toward such persons. In virtually every instance, a small group of three to five men (a “judicial committee”) met with them in secret meetings, where those who came as witnesses could only give their testimony but not stay to witness the discussion.Later a brief disfellowshiping announcement was read to the congregation that presented none of the testimony and none of the evidence in support of the disfellowshiping action. After the reading of that announcement no Witness was supposed to talk with thepersons disfellowshiped, thereby shutting down any possibility of their expressing themselves by way of an explanation to friends and associates. For them to have done so before the disfellowshiping would have been counted as ‘proselytizing,’ ‘undermining the unityof the congregation,’ ‘sowing dissension,’ ‘forming a sect.’ For anyone to talk to them afterward would jeopardize that person’s own standing, make him liable for similar disfellowshipment” (Raymond V Franz CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE page 37-38)

For the full article  regarding this subject press>>>>

This is not where it ends!!!

Jehovah Witnesses on the subject of life after death will always post or use the same verses, usually to the exclusion of all others.  Like some mantra that has been pounded into them by the organisation.    They do not believe in an immortal soul, and therefore upon death the person simply ceases to exist.  Nothing transpires for the soul afterwards.

Here are a few quotes I was given recently. 

Ecclesiastes 9:5  The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered.

Ecclesiastes 1:11 There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow

Ecclesiastes 2:16 For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten. Like the fool, the wise man too must die!

Isaiah 26:14 They are now dead, they live no more; those departed spirits do not rise. You punished them and brought them to ruin; you wiped out all memory of them

The implication is that once the person dies he simply ceases to exist. The dead are buried and after that there is no more hope.  Nothing is carried on and there is no immortal soul.

But do these verses or even the Bible as a whole support this concepts?  Let’s take a closer look and judge for yourselves.

Ecc 9: 6   Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any [thing] that is done under the sun

Taken out of context any verse can be made to say something else. Such terms as “perish” would imply an extinction, until we place the verse back into context.

Ecc 9:4-7   For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any [thing] that is done under the sun

Solomon used a phrase which he repeated often.  >>> UNDER THE SUN<<< He uses it to refer to what happens to mankind in general.  The emphasis then in this chapter is again on what happens to people who are alive on this earth.  It is from that perspective that he talking about.  The dead don’t know what is happening in THIS LIFE!!  They have moved on and have no contact with what goes on IN THIS LIFE!!  The dead have no interaction with those who are alive on this earth.  Living have no interaction with the dead.

So the dead do not come back to haunt people or places.   Nor can they send messages back from beyond the grave to comfort the Living.   A good example has to be the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.  The rich man had an awareness of where he was at, he had feelings and he was in a position to experience bodily sensation.  But at no time was he in a position to know what his brothers were doing or even to contact them.  Even when he pleaded for someone to send his brothers a message no such message could be sent.  They have Moses and the prophet was the reply.

Reward:  There is no more reward.  The Bible says it appointed unto man once to die and then the judgement.  Whilst a person is alive he still has time to find God, receive salvation.  Know the truth.  Once dead that opportunity passes.  Their fate is sealed forever. Every opportunity to interact with the living for good or bad has passed.  Whatever one has in worldly goods money fame honour is gone.  You can’t take it with you.

Ecc 1:11   [There is] no remembrance of former [things]; neither shall there be [any] remembrance of [things] that are to come with [those] that shall come after.

Again this verse is open to abuse.  What things have “NO REMEMBERANCE OF FORMER THINGS” REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS TO COME”  What things?

This verse might give us a clue >>>Ecc 1:9   The thing that hath been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is done [is] that which shall be done: and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun.  Notice the common term is repeated once again “UNDER THE SUN”   Solomon is not talking about what happens after one is dead but what happens when one is still alive.

Ecc 1:13   And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all [things] that are done UNDER HEAVEN: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

Solomon is not exploring what takes place after one is dead but what is the wisdom of those who are alive.  History unless one is famous and it is recorded is forgotten by those who come after. In many cases the experiences that have been experienced by many are not always remembered or valued by future generations.

Ecc 2:16   For [there is] no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now [is] in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise [man]? as the fool.

Again there is no mention here of how the dead exist, but in how they lived.  Both the wise man and the fool will die.  Death is the inevitable consequences of the fall. Both will die and both will one day be forgotten.  The sad reality is that one day all who have lived will be forgotten.

Isaiah 26:14 They are now dead, they live no more; those departed spirits do not rise. You punished them and brought them to ruin; you wiped out all memory of them

Does this verse say that the departed are no more?  Poof gone!!!

Ecc 2:17   Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought UNDER THE SUN [is] grievous unto me: for all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

Again Solomon uses this phrase  “UNDER THE SUN”. At no time is Solomon exploring the realities of the departed other than the knowledge that what comes to all men under the sun.  The dead do not come back to speak to the living unless resurrected

Ecc 2:18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken UNDER THE SUN: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

Otherwise the wealth we labour for will one day be owned by someone else.    Solomon’s preoccupation is about all that took place UNDER THE SUN, NOT WHAT TOOK PLACE UNDER THE GROUND.  You can build a kingdom and accumulation of wealth, but you can’t take it with you when you die.

Jesus said much the same thing about not laying up treasures on this earth where moth and rust can devour, But lay up for yourself treasures in heaven. However unless ones survives death such wealth accumulated will serve no purpose.

The Watchtower will often point to Genesis by saying:  This from their own web site

Genesis 2:7 states: “Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living soul.” The first man, Adam, was a soul. Source article titled :  (DO YOU HAVE AN IMMORTAL SOUL?) http://www.watchtower.org/e/20070715/article_01.htm

The idea here is that Adam body was called a Soul.  However as we all know the Body of Adam had already been created and was lying motionless on the ground until God breathed the breath of life into him.  It is only then he became a living Soul and not before hand.

The understanding that the word “soul” can mean the whole person is supported by other scriptures. For example, the Bible speaks of a soul’s doing work. (Leviticus 23:30) The soul is spoken of as being impatient, irritated, sleepless, fearful, and depressed. (Judges 16:16; Job 19:2; Psalm 119:28; Acts 2:43; 1 Thessalonians 5:14) Referring to a soul as a person, Romans 13:1 states: “Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities.” And at 1 Peter 3:20, we read: “In Noah’s days, . . . a few people, that is, eight souls, were carried safely through the water.” Nothing in these scriptures indicates that the soul is some immaterial entity that lives on after death

However nor does it say that the soul was equal to the Body.  If the soul and the body meant the same thing why bother to make such a difference.  Why not simply change all the reference to the soul and place it with the word “body”>>>>  Let every BODY be subject to the higher powers.  Or only eight Bodies were carried safely through the waters.  Why make a difference between the term BODY and soul.  Could it be because there is a difference?

Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

If the soul is just another word for the body then why does Jesus make a clear and precise separation between them?  Is not killing the Body the same as killing the soul?  Jesus says Fear not them which >>>KILL THE BODY >>> But ARE NOT ABLE TO KILL THE SOUL<<<<

If Jesus himself says that there is a difference between the two than it would seem logical to take heed to what Jesus says.

1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now again why bother to make any difference if the soul was the body.  In fact why does it not simply say that your whole spirit and body be preserved blameless, But they don’t believe in the spirit either.  That is nothing more than ones breathe.  How can ones breath be preserved blameless?   So Paul would have to change that verse to say that your whole Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus.  However as they don’t believe anything exists after death what is there to preserve anyway?

Clearly, the Bible shows what man is. He does not have a soul; he is a soul. Because of what man is—his nature—any hope for future life for the dead depends on a resurrection, a raising up. The Bible promises: “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear [Jesus’] voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28, 29) That sure promise of a resurrection—not the teaching of the immortality of the soul—is the basis for real hope for the dead.

Yet the very fact that scripture makes such a separation would say otherwise.  What hope does the watchtower offer ?  Absolutely Nothing!!!!!  So what is resurrected if there is no immortal soul?  I mean  if nothing survives death what is there to resurrect.  The term often used IS GODS REMEMBRANCE OF THE DEAD.  So what gets resurrected is only Gods memory of an individual.  The individual is therefore never resurrected.  What you have is a fact simile, a look alike.  They try to persuade people to call this a HOPE!!!!

Without a immortal soul there can not be a resurrection to speak off.  It would therefore be called a recreation.

Jesus in sharing about the rich man and Lazarus make it quite clear that these two men had died,  Did they cease to exist ?  No Jesus says that the rich man wakes up in hell,  He has ceased to live among the living.  His brothers have no way of contacting him.  Though he was dead yet he was alive.  So what died?  His body was in the grave but the rich man was clearly not in the grave. Was there a separation being made between the Body and soul here?  Absolutely!!!!

…in his resurrection he ‘became a life-giving spirit.’ That was why for most of the time he was invisible to his faithful apostles… He needs no human body any longer… The human body of flesh, which Jesus Christ laid down forever as a ransom sacrifice, was disposed of by God’s power.”—“ (Things in Which it is Impossible for God to Lie,” pp. 332, 354)

“So the evidence indicates that the Son of God was known as Michael before he came to earth and is known also by that name since his return to heaven where he resides as the glorified spirit Son of God.”—(Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, 1989, p. 218)

 1Cr 15:12-15- Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen. And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not

1Cr 15:17-19   And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Yet is this not the very argument which the Watchtower uses that the dead are not raised.  That Christ was not actually raised from the dead but was a created spirit being.

Whilst many believers in those early days wondered about what happens to a love one that has died.  Are they resurrected or was that a furlong hope.  It was made clear that the dead do indeed live on.  One day they will be reunited with a new resurrected body.

1 Cor 15: 35-40 But some [man] will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? [Thou] fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die. And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other [grain]: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh [is] not the same flesh: but [there is] one [kind of] flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, [and] another of birds. [There are] also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial [is] one, and the [glory] of the terrestrial [is] another.

1 Cor 15: 42-44 So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

1 Cor 15: 45-48  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit. Howbeit that [was] not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man [is] of the earth, earthy: the second man [is] the Lord from heaven. As [is] the earthy, such [are] they also that are earthy: and as [is] the heavenly, such [are] they also that are heavenly.

1 Cor 15: 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly

Now Paul is trying to tell us something here that should blow our socks off.    The carnal seed is the Body we know have.  Its sown into the dust of the earth and decomposes.  The same goes for many seeds that are planted.  The outer shell dies and out from it comes a plant.  Even so our bodies are returned to dust.  Its only the carnal shell.  However there seems to be this aspect that the soul needs a body to house the soul in. Paul compares the first Adam with the second.  The first reproduced the carnal flesh we live in now.  The second Adam will reproduce a spiritual body.  All who are of second Adams seed will be raised in glorious body that will be immortal.  We cant say exactly what it will look like all we know is that when his body was raise it had been changed.  It was the same body but it had been altered.  Even those whose bodies have long since decomposed to nothing or destroyed will be housed.  This new Body will have none of the imperfections of the last.  It will not age and therefore can’t succumbed to decay.  I suspect that its make up will be radically different from the one we have now.  Otherwise the laws which confine us to this earth will be changed.  It will bear the image of the heavenly.  We will have a completely different perspective on what is going on around us. 

Rev 7: 9- 10  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Now if we are to stand before the throne and the throne is in heaven, then it sure makes sense that we will have bodies that can do so.  We will be able to behold what is until now veiled.  At present only angels behold the throne and the few who were taken up in heavenly visions.   Those that did recalled at the awesome glory and majesty that touched their souls.  Man by nature because of the fall recoils from such a purity and holiness.  On that day we will be as pure and holy as Jesus is.  We will not recoil at its brightness or its warmth.  But rejoice in its glow.

The “freedom movement” prohibits Christians from voting “because they intended to vote for two moderate Muslims and not the Salafi candidates. ‘No Copt from Rahmaniya-Kebly was able to vote, so the Salafists will win the elections.’”

Obama say, “Respect it!”

Muslims in Egypt Burn Christian Homes and Shops, Attack  church AINA (hat tip Daryl)

(AINA) — A Muslim mob attacked Copts today in the Upper Egyptian village of Rahmaniya-Kebly, Nag Hammadi, Qena province, destroying and torching their homes, straw huts and shops, while chanting Allahu Akbar. No one was reported killed or injured (video). According to reports, security forces were present but did not intervene and the fire brigade arrived 90 minutes late.

An eye-witness said that a straw hut belonging to a Copt was torched to clear the area for a mosque. There are more than 300 mosques in the village and one church.

According to Coptic residents, the reason behind the violence was the parliamentary elections. The Salafists wanted to prevent Copts, who number more than 50% of the inhabitants (20,000), from voting because they intended to vote for two moderate Muslims and not the Salafi candidates. “No Copt from Rahmaniya-Kebly was able to vote today, so the Salafists will win the elections,” said a witness. Copts were forcefully prevented from voting.

US-based WAY TV, which covered live today’s Rahmaniya attacks, called commander Osama, head of security at Rahmaniya, who said “everything was OK” — despite live pictures on TV of the burning homes. Joseph Nasralla of WAY TV spoke to security and made them aware that the videos of the fires were being broadcast in the U.S. and Middle East, which caused the immediate dispatch of security vehicles. By late evening the violence had stopped.

Joseph Nasralla spoke at our 911 Ground Zero mosque rallies. He is a champion of human rights.

In another incident today, a large number of Salafis and members of the Muslim Brotherhood entered the Abu Makka church, in Bahteem, Shubra-el-Khayma, Qaliubia province, and informed the congregation that the church has no licence and no one should pray in it. One Muslim said the 1300 square meter church would be suitable for a mosque and a hospital.

Source   http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2012/01/muslims-in-egypt-burn-christian-homes-and-shops-attack-church-screaming-allahu-akbar.html

UCMINISTRIES:  We continue to hope and pray that freedom and true democracy would find a place in Egypt.  Having disposed of one dictator many hope that Egypt would see a new enlightenment.  Sadly democracy as we know it is impossibility and freedom of religion is quickly disappearing.  Once the Militants get in they will make sure to stay in. 

UCMINISTRIES:  It seems if they can’t get the sons they will certainly get the father.

Richard Roberts

Eph 5: 8 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.

Prov 20: 1 Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Richard Roberts, the son of the late evangelist Oral Roberts, was arrested Tuesday for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper stopped the 63-year-old just past midnight driving 93 miles per hour in his Mercedes-Benz.

According to the arrest report, Roberts failed a breathalyzer and field sobriety test.

The officer “detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage about Roberts’ breath and person,” the report said.

Roberts served as president of Oral Roberts University for 15 years before stepping down in 2007.

He currently hosts a nightly television show called, “The Place for Miracles: Your Hour of Healing.”

“Our prayers go out to Richard and Lindsay Roberts and their entire family as they face this life challenge,” ORU officials said in a statement. “May God’s grace help them as they work towards healing.

News posts says that Richard was going 93 mph in a 65 Mph road.   The report goes on to say he failed sobriety test Roberts consented to a breath test showed his blood alcohol level at .011%, higher than the .08% limit for legal intoxication.

USMINISTRIES:  Whilst the Bible does not forbid the actual drinking of alcohol, it is very clear that one should not be drunk with alcohol. The trouble is when it comes to making the difference between a little and too much.  Having known alcoholics, I don’t recommend the drinking of alcohol in general.  Most people just can’t handle it and most people don’t know when to stop.

With Richard Roberts I suspect there may be deeper issues that need to be addressed. I hope and pray they will.  If anyone hears more on this story let us know.

Reblogged from UC Ministries Blog:

Isa 24:18- 20 “  And it shall come to pass, he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.   THE EARTH SHALL REEL TO AND FRO LIKE A DRUNKARD, AND SHALL BE REMOVED LIKE A COTTAGE; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon …