Trading Truth for Solidarity - Part 3

Shaping the Global 'Christian' Youth

By Berit Kjos - August 2007 Background information: Church Youth Trained for UNESCO's Culture of Peace

Part 1 Part 2 Part 4 An older article with some broken links. Sorry about that!

Note: Since this article is almost 5 years old, some of the links are obsolete
"...the purpose of education and the schools is to change the thoughts, feelings and actions of students."[1] Dr. Benjamin Bloom, "Father of Outcome-Based Education" "Postmodern culture is a change-or-be-changed world. The word is out: Reinvent yourself for the 21st century or die."[2] Leonard Sweet in Soul Tsunami (endorsed by Rick Warren) "In this new reformation of self-esteem, the first thing required is to pull God down from His supremely elevated place so you can then lift yourself up."[3] A warning from Pastor John MacArthur

"The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one," we are told in 1 John 5:19. And the leaders of today's world are just as determined to undermine Gods Word as those who despised Christianity two millennia ago. The fact that their tools and tactics are more sophisticated these days gives us plenty of reasons to heed God's repeated warnings: Be watchful! Pray! Don't be deceived! The guiding vision of contemporary world leaders was summarized by Professor Raymond Houghton back in 1970. As you ponder his words, remember that the key strategies used in secular schools are now embraced by market-driven churches around the world: "...absolute behavior control is imminent.... The critical point of behavior control, in effect, is sneaking up on mankind without his self-conscious realization that a crisis is at hand. Man will... never self-consciously know that it has happened."[5] The main targets of these change agents have been our children, our youth, and our Biblical faith. Have these revolutionaries succeeded? Yes! We are now immersed in the fruit of their labor: a postmodern world that rejects the Truth and moral foundations that shaped America's faith and freedom. .

Global Transformation
Like our secular guides, today's postmodern, purpose-driven church guides keep sounding the call for continual change. And their restless audience -- dulled by decades of "progressive education" and corrupt entertainment -- are fast falling in line behind the most popular pied pipers. There's little to hold them back from the tempting snares that tug at their hearts these days. The greatest obstacle to deception has always been God's unchanging Word. But that wall of resistance is crumbling fast. Today's transformational leaders know that their pleasure-loving followers would rather dialogue about "biblical principles" in popular movies than study or memorize Scriptures. And such facilitated dialogue is central to this revolution. As Professor Benjamin Bloom ("Father of Outcome-Based Education") wrote back in 1971, "...a large part of what we call 'good teaching' is the teacher's ability to attain affective objectives through challenging the students' fixed beliefs and getting them to discuss issues."[6]

Bloom was building on the revolutionary foundation laid by Julian Huxley, first head of UNESCO. In his 1947 expos of the UN agenda, "UNESCO: Its purpose and Its Philosophy," Huxley wrote: "The task is to help the emergence of a single world culture.... And it is necessary, for at the moment, two opposing philosophies of life confront each other from the West and from the East.... Can these opposites be reconciled, this antithesis be resolved in a higher synthesis?... "In pursuing this aim, we must eschew [shun] dogma - whether it be theological dogma or Marxist dogma.... East and West will not agree on a basis of the future if they merely hurl at each other the fixed ideas of the past... If we are to achieve progress, we must learn to uncrystalize our dogmas." [Read more here] Could pastors and church leaders be willing to "uncrystallize" their Biblical foundations? Faced with the world's tempting incentives, today's pragmatic leaders are selling their souls for the latest marketing models. For example, one of today's popular Sunday School programs is the costly KIDMO. Its website emphasizes a unifying "mission," not Biblical literacy: "In order to equip mentors to inspire world changers, your kids need a MISSION. ... It creates clarity, causes action, and changes perspective."[3] Changing perspectives is key to this transformation. As Professor Houghton warned decades ago, you won't even "know that it has happened." Compromise becomes the norm as blinded shepherds of God's flocks pursue the latest strategies for "success." The steps below are vital to their unbiblical mission: Replace solid Biblical teaching with feel-good storytelling. Reinvent our sovereign holy God as a permissive buddy who applauds your goodness. Keep affirming God's love and understanding; forget His holy standard and judgment. Trade Bible study (too didactic and divisive) for facilitated group dialogue. Stress human deeds not God's doctrine. Contextualize the gospel and emphasize unity in diversity. Tolerate everything except old-fashioned parents and other obstacles to change.

Whose Values Will Guide Our Children?

Parents? Where do they fit into this picture? Mike Yaconelli, the celebrated founder of the popular "Christian" Youth Specialties, gave us a clue in his article "The Problem of Parents:" "What's the biggest obstacle to effective youth ministry? Parents.... Why are young people stressed out? Parents. Why are young people obsessed with education, good grades, SAT scores...? Parents.... Who supports our ministries until their child has a negative experience, or is disciplined, or is injured, or doesn't like youth group, or the music, or their counselor, or a new sponsor, or the way the youth group is being run? Parents."[7] Mike Yaconelli, "The Problem of Parents" Concerned parents have distressed secular change agents as well. That's why Professor John Goodlad, who worked with UNESCO in the seventies, warned fellow educators that "...most youth still hold the same values as their parents.... If we do not alter this pattern, if we don't resocialize... our society may decay."[8] "Enlightened social engineering is required to face situations that demand global action now. Parents and the general public must be reached also, otherwise, children and youth enrolled in globally oriented programs may find themselves in conflict with values assumed in the home."[9] Megan Fuller, a visitor to our website, shows us the results of this anti-family ideology. "I ran across an article by Mike Yaconelli from Youth Specialties about a week ago," she wrote, "and I was floored by his open disdain for parents and traditional church leadership. But it served to

bring to mind my own rebellion, and I began to wonder if his disdain and my experiences in youth group werent really all that far apart."[10] She continued, "I began attending a mega-church called Capital Christian Center which has recently strayed into the Emergent Church scene (though they wouldnt admit it). Within one year of attending that church, I was in the beginning stages of rebellion against my parents and against the foundation of God's Word that was instilled in me as a young girl. Two years after becoming an ACTIVE member of the youth group (and in its leadership) I was in full rebellion against everything my parents had taught me as a child.

"I thought I was righteous. I thought I was the one who had it right. I thought my parents
were legalistic (I HATED the writings of Paul). I thought my parents had too many expectations for me. I thought they werent really concerned about spreading the gospel as much as I was. I thought I was on fire for Christ. But I thought wrongand had God not delivered me from that rebellion, I would be lost. Just another product of a youth group much like Mike Yaconelli envisions for every youth group. God help us!"[10] [Since children and youth are the most vulnerable victims in this spiritual revolution, our next article will deal with three "Models" for facilitating a child's "spiritual formation." All are tested and used in public as well as church school: Contemplative-Reflective, Pragmatic-Participatory, and Media-driven Active Engagement Model.]

Training Tomorrow's World Changers

Contrary to Biblical guidelines, the church and the world now share a common goal: to train today's youth to lead tomorrow's pluralistic world. Both church and world are picking out their most promising leaders -those who heartily pursue the "right" vision and the evolving global mission. I met some of them at the UN conferences and [Gorbachev's] State of the World Forums. Those "chosen" teens from diverse nations were led, through the dialectic process, to synthesize opposing views and embrace an evolving, preplanned consensus. They were trained to think, speak and act as citizens of a collective global village. Like postmodern "Christian" youth, many of those "chosen" youth believed in God but doubted the Bible. They believed in personal truths but rejected God's absolute Truth. They believed in a Christ but not in our Savior. They loved the creation but denied the Creator. As Harvard student Bill Burke-White reported during Gorbachev's 1996 Forum, "We have spent this week re-imagining and re-envisioning the world we have inherited.... Just a few short steps from your meeting rooms this week there is a community of youth who were born into the global village.... This is a community that will not tolerate the continued ecological devastation of the sacred landscape of our home... [and] that has no tolerance for dogmatism and fundamentalism." "This community needs to learn about the new paradigm or to unlearn the old -- we were born into an awakening Earth.... Imagine, if you will, a world which has realized the Youth summit's vision of building a Global Youth Alliance, a planet-wide conversation, an interlinking, a networking of the many youth organizations that share these heart-felt visions...."[11] "Unlearning the old" ways is key to the global transformation. And its pied pipers are determined to break the old ties and restraints, whatever it takes. Like the Phoenix rising out of its own ashes, the new world must rise above the old beliefs and values. Their arguments sound good and noble -- almost Christian -- to those who never learned to love God's true and living Word. Notice the logical progression from untrue assumptions (#1) to mainstream deceptions (#3): 1. Global peace demands global oneness. Therefore all must follow the global guidelines to unity.

2. Global unity demands collective thinking. Therefore all must participate in small group dialogue. 3. Dialogue and consensus require respect for diversity and synthesis of opposites. Therefore resisters and their divisive Truth must be silenced. Such spiritual assaults on Biblical Christianity are neither new nor surprising. God's holy ways have never pleased the world. They certainly don't fit today's emphasis on self-esteem and feel-good spirituality. And since they undermine God's moral and spiritual boundaries, they invite chaos rather than unity -- coercion instead of freedom. The transformation is speeding up. Those who simply flow with the revolution will find acceptance, while those who passionately pursue "progress" will probably be tomorrow's leaders. But concerned resisters will face some hard choices. Dan (another website visitor) illustrates the battle: 1) My company was recently bought by another company. The new company had individual meetings with us to explain the 'company culture.' At the end of the meeting, we were asked to verbalize our commitment to the company culture with a yes or a no: 'If you agree to our culture, please answer 'Yes.' They wanted a verbal commitment. Car salesmen use the same tactic to get you in a 'yes' verbal pattern. It also matches the new evangelism. 2) A television commercial for Lexus automobiles shows a gentleman walking thru a metropolitan area, with extremely fast-moving scenery, attempting to give the impression that things are changing very quickly. The gentleman (aka the viewer) is looking things over, as if contemplating what to do. The narrator says something about how the world is changing very quickly, and then in a very pointed way, says - 'Are you IN, or OUT?' It's Us or Them!" Where do you stand? Rick Warren assures his followers that "fundamentalism, of all varieties, will be 'one of the big enemies of the 21st century.'" [12] He may be right! His worldwide influence will surely speed the rising hostility toward the fundamental Truths of God -- a major obstacle to global solidarity.[13] "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.... If they persecuted Me they will persecute you... for they do not know the One who sent Me." John 15:19-21 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24 See also Church Youth Trained for UNESCO's Culture of Peace Enemy of The People? | The Rising World Religion | Who defines the Kingdom of God? Victory | Index of Scriptures Endnotes: 1. Benjamin Bloom, All Our Children Learning (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1981), 180. 2. Leonard Sweet, Soul Tsunami," pps 74-75. www.crossroad.to/Quotes/Church/post-modern/leonardsweet.htm 3. John MacArthur, Hard to Believe (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003), 4. 5. To Nurture Humaneness: Commitment for the '70s (Washington DC: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, NEA, 1970). 6. David Krathwohl, Benjamin Bloom and Bertram Massia, Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, The Classification of Educational Goals, Handbook II: Affective Domain, (McKay Publishers, 1956), 55. 7. Mike Yaconelli, The Problem of Parents at www.youthspecialties.com/articles/Yaconelli/parents.php

8.John Goodlad, "Report of Task Force C: Strategies for Change," Schooling for the Future, a report to the President's Commission on Schools Finance, Issue #9, 1971. 9. James Becker, Editor, Schooling for a Global Age, (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1979), xiii, xvii. 10. Megan was referring to this article: Piling on the Milestones, which is not available. 11. The State of the World according to Gorbachev at www.crossroad.to/text/articles/tstotw1196.html 12. Paul Nussbaum, "The purpose-driven pastor," The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 8, 2006, at www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/religion/13573441.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp 13. Five fundamentals: 1. Deity of Christ. 2. Virgin birth. 3. Blood atonement. 4. Resurrection of Jesus. 5. Inerrancy of Scriptures. (From http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/pewreligion.htm#fundamentals)

A Message To The Youth Of The 21st Century

Many of our young people are without hope, discouraged and depressed to the point where they are suicidal. Even within the church there is discontentment, disappointment and loneliness. They look at the world around them, and they see no hope for the future. There is unrest and war throughout the world. Unemployment is a real problem. When they come out of High school, College or University, there is no guarantee for a job or career. They seem to have no goal to work to in life, many turn to drinking, drugs and partying. The youth from Christian back grounds are not exempt from this dilemma. Where is society heading and what is the solution to the problems that are facing us as a Christian society. Part of the problem, I believe lies within the church itself, and some of the teachings that have been passed down, through the last several centuries. Namely (in a nut shell) that things are going to get so bad in these last days that, the Christians will have to be evacuated from the earth (rapture) in order to escape what is coming upon this world. We have tapes, books and movies about what these last days, portraying all that will happen to the unbeliever. However if you are a Christian (saved) you will escape all this tribulation, because Jesus will rapture you. This is believed by the majority of Christians, even though Jesus prayer to the Father was I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil (day) one. John 17:15. This all seems very realistic and good to the older generation, that is looking forward to meeting their creator, but the youth have a built in God given desire to live and realize their potential here on earth. Life is a very special gift from God and most youth, Christian or not, look forward to growing up, finding their career or vocation in life, get married and raise a family, and have a God given fulfillment in life. They are not that interested to hear about the rapture that supposedly could take place any moment, because they would miss out on all their hopes and dreams that God had for them here on earth. (with trials & tribulation) I had a young prominent business man, say to me, after hearing a message on the rapture that he could not get too excited about the fact that the rapture could happen any time, that life was too good for him. Now coming from a Christian business man it almost seems sac-religious, but this is exactly what I was referring to when I say the church is partly at fault because of the teaching that this young man received. Let me explain first of all, that I do believe in Christs secret appearing to the saints at the turn of

this millennium. Just as the third feast, Tabernacles was kept at the end of the year, so also will this third and last experience be fulfilled, by Christ through the marriage of Christ to His bride.(part of the church). Not all who say Lord, Lord will enter into the reigning and ruling with Christ in His kingdom, but only those that do the will of my Father. Matt.7:21 V. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? V. 23 then will I say unto them, I never knew you. Depart from me, you that work iniquity. (unrighteousness). We are in the last days of this age. (2nd millennium) However that does not mean that our time on this earth will end at this time. Mankind has been on this earth for six thousand years, or six millennium, or six days, from the fall of Adam and Eve. 2 peter 3:8. (with the Lord one day is as 1000 yrs.) God has been restoring man to himself ever since the fall. Just as God created all things in six days, (probably 1000 yr. days) and then rested on the seventh day, the church will enter into a rest on the seventh millennium, and the devil will be bound for a thousand years. Rev. 20:6. During this time the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached as never before, with the devil put away, the five- fold ministry will bring unity of the faith, and bring perfection to the saints, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Eph. 4:12&13 Looking at this in the light of the New Testament, we have to realize that four thousand years have been fulfilled in the Old Testament through Moses and the Prophets. And ultimately by Jesus dying on the cross for our redemption, paying the price for our sins, with His own blood. We therefore, now in the New Testament dispensation, are looking at three one thousand year days, to complete our full redemption, of which we are now at the close of the second day. The next one thousand year day, (or third day) after the close of the present millennium, is the thousand year reign of Christ, with the over comers of Rev 20:6. The teaching that many of us have received and accepted, is that the rapture will take place before the great tribulation, and Who! to those left behind and supposedly destroyed. According to Rev. the Bride will be ruling and reigning with Christ for a thousand years. My question is who will Christ and the over comers be ruling over if the believers are raptured and the unbelievers destroyed? The Bible says that as it was in the days of Noah. How was it in the days of Noah? Who was taken away, and who was kept safe in the ark? It was the righteous that were kept safe in the Ark, and inherited the earth, and the wicked were taken away in the flood. Matt.24:39 And knew not till the flood came and took them all away, so also shall the coming of the Son of man be, 40: Then shall two be in a bed, one shall be taken and one left, 41: two shall be grinding at the mill ,one shall be taken and one shall be left. According to most churchs traditional teaching is that the righteous are taken and the wicked are left, but if it was as in Noahs day, the reverse is true, the wicked are taken and the righteous are left to inherit the earth. Jesus said in the parable of the seed and the tares let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares in bundles and burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn. (here on earth) Matt. 13:30 Jesus Christ is our ark of safety. Those that are in the Secret Place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 9i. Yes there will be great tribulation at the end of this second day, ( we have not yet entered the third day) such as the world has not seen before or ever after. This psalm was written for just such a time as is coming upon the whole earth. Just as the

Ark carried the righteous to safety and inherited the earth, so will those that are in the Secret Place of the Most High ( over comers) be kept, carried and protected, throughout the tribulation period. This tribulation period is not going to be seven years as tradition has taught us, and is not scriptural. It will be three and one half years. Rev. 12:6&14 and !3: 5 all relate to the same period of time. During this time of tribulation, when destruction and terror will be all around us! If God is our secret dwelling place and we are under the shadow of the Almighty. Then A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near to you, only with your eyes shall you behold the reward of the wicked. Psalm 91: 7&8. It is imperative that we as believers are sold out to Christ, to be an over comer, and if we are we have nothing to fear what is coming upon the whole earth. However, if you or I are not one of those who takes these last days seriously, we will be one of those men whose hearts are failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. Luke 21:25&26. But if Christ is our Ark of safety and these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near. Luke21: 28b. It is not my intention to put fear into any ones heart, but to show you , and me, that as Christians, that the answer for our protection is not going to be in financial security, home security or for that matter police security, but only to DWELL IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH, that is in the SHADOW of the ALMIGHTY. In Rev. 12:1 The woman, (part of the Church, the bride that marries Christ) that brought forth the manchild, (manifested sons of God, Rom. 8:19) and she was persecuted by the dragon, (devil). God let her flee into the wilderness, where she was protected for three and one half years. The fact that she was great with child, indicates that the marriage of Christ and the bride has already taken place, When the dragon goes after her, to persecute her, to her were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, times and half a time, (3 yrs.) from the face of the serpent. (devil). Then when the dragon cant persecute the church, he was angry with the church, and went to make war with the remnant (seed of like kind) of her seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev. 12:17. Here we see that those Christians that were not the over comers (five foolish virgins) did not enter into the marriage feast of the Lamb. They did not have the oil needed for their lamps. Therefore they did not have the protection that the woman received. In Verse 17 it says that he (dragon) went to make war with the seed of like kind, and in Chap.13:7. And it was given unto him (dragon) to make war with the saints, and to over come them, and there was no protection for them. And it was given him to make war with the saints, and over come them. Vr. 5 and power was given unto him to continue forty- two months (3 years) It is during this same time period of 3 yrs. when the remnant are persecuted that the church is protected in the wilderness. The remnant ( the seed of like kind) that had the testimony of Jesus, and the woman saved from persecution by God in the wilderness, both these groups were born again believers, The difference was one group (The woman had bought or received the Holy Spirit (oil) and were over comers and the others ( remnant) were not willing to pay the price, therefore did not have the protection. Let us look at what Jesus was telling us through the parable of the ten virgins. Then shall the

kingdom of haven be likened unto ten virgins. Which took their lamps and went forth to meet their bridegroom. The five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels, with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the bridegroom is coming, you go out to meet him. And all of the virgins arose, and trimmed their lambs. And the foolish said to the wise, give us of your oil for our lamps have gone out. But the wise said, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but rather you go to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you I know you not. Watch therefore, for you dont know neither the hour or the day when the Son of man comes. Matt. 25: 1 13. These ten were all virgins (an unmarried maiden, believers) they all took their lamps (speaks to His word Ps. 119:105) to meet the bridegroom. They were all ready for heaven, born again. The five wise wanted more than to get to heaven, and they took extra oil in their vessels, ( baptized with the Spirit of God), The five foolish thought that their salvation experience was sufficient to be part of Gods kingdom, where they would rule with Christ. However they found out to late, that the key to entering into the kingdom was the extra oil, and when they returned the door was shut, and Christ declares, He doesnt know them. This knowing speaks of an intimate relationship, and communion with Christ, and that Christ is Lord of all. (Just as Adam knew Eve, it speaks of a close intimate relationship, a love relationship) Any kingdom is made up of Subjects, and different Subjects have different positions in this kingdom. There are those that the King will appoint to positions to govern his kingdom, which would probably be those that were known to him, and that he could trust to obey his orders. Who would be better to head up this government then his own son? And he would help the king to set up his ruling and reigning team. And whom will they be reigning over? It is the subjects of his kingdom that they will rule over. We as Christians are subjects of the Kingdom of (God) which is in heaven and Christ, Gods Son is going to choose his subjects to help Him, reigning and ruling this kingdom, (which will be here on earth) according to their faithfulness in following Him here on earth. In order to enter heaven and see the kingdom of God, we must be born again. John 3:3. Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot SEE the kingdom of God. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Salvation (born again) gets us into heaven. PRAISE the LORD! we are saved from eternal condemnation, and not going to hell. When Nicodemus questions Jesus about this second birth in Ver.5 Jesus replies, Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot ENTER into the kingdom of God. Therefore to enter into the kingdom of God, we must be baptized in water and baptized in the Holy Spirit. Not all that are born again will be part of the bride of Christ. Only those that have been cleansed by the washing of the water of the word. Eph. 5:26 There are many scriptures that tell us that we are to expectantly look for Christs return. The question is how and when do we expect His return to take place? We know that Christ is coming for a church that is without spot or wrinkle, cleansed by the washing of the water of the word.

Now in Gods eyes we as believers are cleansed by the blood of Jesus, when He died on the cross, for our sins, and we are saved from eternal condemnation, because of his shed blood. However it is not God coming for the church, but Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church, and we are His body. At this point and time the church is not cleansed and without spot or wrinkle, but God is in the process of doing just that, cleansing the Son of Levi. In Malachi 3:1 we read and the Lord who you seek, shall suddenly come to His temple,Vr.2 but who shall abide the day of His coming? ( And who shall stand when He appears? For He is like a refiners fire and fullers soap. Vr. 3 And He shall sit as a refiners and purifiers of silver, and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering of righteousness. The Lord whom we seek is none other then the Jesus Christ, and He is coming to His temple. Which temple we as individual Christians, as well as the body of Christ are. The purpose of His coming is very clearly pointed out in this scripture, it is to cleanse His temple. Just as the earthly temple was cleansed by Jesus during earthly ministry, He also will do the same in the spiritual temple, His church. To make the church righteous like He is, and to become His espoused Bride (2Cor. 11:2) Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? (mount of the Almighty God) Who shall stand in His Holy place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul onto vanity, neither sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalm 24:3-5 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. (our first encounter with Christ) and unto them that look for Him shall He appear a second time, without sin unto salvation. Heb. 9:28 Why will He appear a second time? Is it to rapture us and take us to heaven at this point, or is it as Malachi says, to cleanse the house of Levi? (the priesthood) which we as a church are. This final cleansing is what is going to happen at the close of this age, in a supernatural ( not mans doing) work of God through Jesus Christ appearing in His saints. This is going to be a spiritual experience as dramatic, or more so, then what the disciples experienced at Pentecost, in the upper room, when they received the baptism with the Holy Spirit, for power to be Christs witnesses. It is called the Pentecostal experience because it happened on that very day, (Acts 2:1) and it is the second Jewish feast, and also the second experience for the Christian. The first being, being our salvation, at the Jewish feast of Passover, of the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world. However we know that there were three main feasts that the scriptures instructed the Jews to keep every year. The third and last feast was the feast of Tabernacles which was kept on the seventh month of their year. Now there is no scriptural evidence that this feast was ever fulfilled by Christ during the first centuries. We do know that the first two feasts were literally fulfilled, by Christ, Passover by his death, on the cross, on the very day of this feast, and out pouring of the Holy Spirit on the very day of Pentecost. We can read in scripture that these two feasts were literally fulfilled by Christ, it is mandatory that this third feast, namely Tabernacles, has to be fulfilled by Christ in this age, here on earth, and not in heaven. And it is this appearing of Christ, in His saints, to infuse them that seek for Him, with Holiness and righteousness. Just as the hundred and twenty were infuse with power for witnessing, because they were seeking Him. The same is true of this third experience. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, (salvation) and to them that look for Him shall He appear a second time

without sin onto salvation. Heb. 9:28. There are many scriptures that will back up this appearing of Christ, to the saints, of which following are a few: When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in glory. Col.3:4. And when the chief Shepherd (Jesus) shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory, that does not fade away 1Peter 5:4. When He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed, before Him at his coming. 1John. 2:28. it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is 1John. 3:2. Some of these scriptures could also apply to His return at the end of the millennium age. When the church will have been perfected, and He will present it to Himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph. 5:27 It is not to all believers that He will appear, but only to those that look for Him. The outpouring of Gods Spirit was received by only one hundred and twenty, (Acts 1:15) that were waiting for to receive this experience that Jesus had promised them. (Luke.24:49, Tarry ye in Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.). Although there were approximately five hundred (1Cor. 15:6) that heard the message, that Jesus gave them, to stay in the city of Jerusalem, till they received this power. They obviously had not taken this to heart, because less then a third of them were there to receive this great experience of power. Today is no different, many of us as believers are satisfied with our salvation experience, as long as we get to haven, but will probably miss out on all the blessings by making Christ Lord of our lives, and taking the chance, that when He comes for His Bride, and says I know you not. There are many references in the bible that tell us not to be ignorant of certain things, and when the scriptures warn us not to be ignorant of these certain things, we have to take special note of what it is, not to be ignorant of. One such scripture is found in 2peter.3:8 But beloved be not ignorant of this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day. Now I know there are those that say, you can not interpret this literally, I beg to differ, its very plan and simple. One day with God is as one thousand years with us, and a thousand years of ours is as on day with God. If there was no other scripture to back this up, we could maybe question this interpretation, that Im suggesting. But we have several other scriptures that support this interpretation. Psalm 90:4a For a thousand years in your (Gods) sight are but as yesterday when it is past. Jesus himself makes reference to certain periods of time as DAYS, when He really referring to millenniums) on several occasions. In Luke 13:32 He says to certain Pharisees, in response to their concern that Herod wanted to kill Him, and He says to them; Go tell that Fox, behold I cast out devils, and do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I am perfected. What was He actually saying to them.? He was obviously not referring to three twenty-four hour days, which would be a total of seventy two hours, which does not make any scenes or meaning. For we know that He did these cures and healing for much longer then two days, and the third day did He need perfecting? Obviously Christ did not need perfecting, but the church His body of which He is the Head, needs perfecting. Let me say that Jesus was talking in terms of His day being a thousand of our years. In other words He is referring to today as the 1st millennium, tomorrow is the 2nd millennium, and the third day as the third millennium. In other words He is

going to do these, cures and casting out devils, throughout the 1st and 2nd millenniums, (which are almost past) by the church, in spite of its imperfection and the third day the church of which He is the Head is going to be perfected. As stated earlier Jesus did not need perfecting, because it was the very fact that he was perfect, that God, could accept His death on the cross as a substitution for our death. (all have sinned and come short) but the church His body does need perfecting and Christ without his body is not complete. It is Jesus that is coming for the church, and not God, and Jesus wants to be Lord of our life and wash us through His word and perfect us. But you say, I have been born again, washed in the blood of Jesus and my sins are for given and Im going to heaven. Yes you are absolutely right! Your on your way to heaven, because God looks down upon you and because you have accepted Jesus as your substitution, (saved) He sees the blood and it blots out your sin, and God sees you as sinless because the blood covers your sin. That is why you are saved from hell and condemnation, and going to heaven. Being saved and going to heaven is only the beginning of what God has in store for us through Jesus Christ. We the body, are espoused onto Christ, that is, engaged to be married to Him, (2Cor. 11:2). But in order to be married to Him we must be perfected, and it is this perfecting that Jesus is referring to when He says the third day I am perfected He the Head is perfect but we the body are not as yet perfected. Although there are those that are reigning and ruling with him and were perfected at the Feast of Tabernacles at the close of the 2nd day and the church will be perfected throughout the 3rd millennium, which Revelation refers to as the one thousand year reign with Christ, here on this earth, while Satan is bound. It is this United Body of Christ the CHURCH that is perfected and will enter the Kingdom of God and Christ. We within the Kingdom will be entering into the 8th day and where the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard lie with the kid, the calf and the young lion together, and a little child shall lead them, and the lion shall eat straw, like the ox. A suckling child shall play by the hole of a asp, poisonous snake). They shall not hurt or destroy in my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. ( Isa. 11: 6 9) Again in John 2:19-21 Jesus says, Destroy this temple and in three days I will, raise it up, Then said the Jews, forty six years was the temple in building, and will you rear it up in three days? But this spoke He of His body (physical). This is a prophecy of Jesus that has a dual fulfillment, as so many prophecies do in both old and new testaments. The first fulfillment of this prophecy came at the resurrection of Jesus, His own physical body. However the scripture teaches that we are Christs body, His temple, and just as His own physical body was resurrected, on the third day, his body the church which is Gods temple, will be resurrected on the third day. Here again we have two, one thousand, year days since Christs resurrection and are about to enter into the third day (millennium). It is this day, the third day that the fulfillment of Christs second phase of this prophecy will be fulfilled, and just as Jesus own personal body was resurrected in three days, The church His Temple will be raised up in three days of one thousand years each. It is after this that the second resurrection will take place when the whole body of Christ is Perfected. In the Old Testament, in the book of Hosea, we have another scripture that speaks to this very same issue. Come and let us return unto the Lord; for He has torn, and he will heal us, He has smitten and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; in the third day he will raise us up (the church His temple) and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to

know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, (blessing) as the latter and former rain unto the EARTH. Hosea 6:1-3. It is here on earth that the church will receive all of Christs blessings and not after we are raptured. This scripture does not make much sense if taken as literally, twenty-four hour days. Taken in the context of one day as a thousand years, it does make very good sense. Although this scripture was meant for Israel initially, it also is prophetic for today for the church. Much of the prophecies given in the Old Testament to Jews (Israel) will often be fulfilled in the New Testament church. The scripture says, that we the believers, are the true Jew, if we have been circumcised in our heart. Now that we have established that it is on the third day (millennium) that the church will be perfected, let us see what is in store for the Christian on this third day? First of all let me say that I believe that when we enter into this day, the great tribulation will have taken place. All those that were dwelling in the secret place of the Most High will be part of the ruling with Christ, in these one thousand years, along with all those that refused to take the mark of the beast, and were martyred, together with the first century martyred Christians. ( Rev. 4:20:4b) These all will live and reign with Christ a thousand years. This is the First resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection, on such the second death shall have no power. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. Rev. 20. 5&6 The devil will have been bound, and cast into the bottomless pit. The external forces of Satan upon mankind, will not be present, through all the evil forces that were imposed upon them. However the heart of man is wicked and deceitful, and proud and therefore man kind will still have to accept salvation through Christ. The salvation message will be proclaimed in miraculous ways, by angels. and I saw an angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water. Rev. 14: 6&7. It is at this time during the third millennium that the five fold ministry will be in full operation. Eph. 4:12 says, this ministry is given for the perfecting of the saints; for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (temple). Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto a measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. This is not speaking about it happening in heaven, as weve been made to believe, but here on earth. It is the first fruits onto Christ that will enter into the first resurrection, which will take place at the end of this age, 2nd day, or the beginning of the third millennium. Romans: 8:19, declares them as the manifested sons of God. Rev.12 refers to them as the manchild, Rev. 14: declares them as the one hundred and forty four thousand on mount Zion, and there are others that would fall into this group. These are all in the same category of first fruits onto God and the Lamb. Paul says in Cor. 15:21 Since by man (Adam) came death, by man (Christ) came also the resurrection of the dead But every man in his order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christs at His coming. Christ is the first fruits as He was raised up on the third day, then at the first resurrection, at the end of this age, (2nd day) or the beginning of the 3rd day (millennium) the first fruits onto Christ at His appearing (secret) in his Temple. Then at the close of the millennium, after Satan has been loosed for a short time, and then thrown into the lake of fire and we have the Great White Throne judgment, (Rev. 20:11-15) this is the second resurrection, where all man kind is resurrected and

judged by God. Here we have all nations gathered before the judgement seat of Christ. Matt: 25: 32-34&41 and before Him shall be gathered all nations; and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the king say onto them on his right hand , Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then shall he say, also to them on the left, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels. Rev. 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and I saw another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. These scriptures depict the scene as they portray the events of the last (second) resurrection, where all will come out of the grave, the believer , and unbeliever alike. There will be many that did not make it into the first resurrection, (first fruits) but will have their names written in the book of life, and will enter into the kingdom, but will have missed out on the reigning and ruling with Christ on earth during the thousand years. (3rd day) They were not willing to pay the price. And the price that all must pay is death to the self-life, (ego) thus entering into the third feast (Tabernacles) Marriage of Christ to the bride (Part of the church) Luke 14:16. Describes a certain man, (Christ) made a great supper and invited many. And he sent his servant (Holy Spirit) to say to them that were bidden, to Come: for all things are now ready. However all those bidden to come had excuses and asked to be excused, for various reasons. The servant came and reported the results to his Master, that the invited were not coming, who upon hearing this was angry, and instructed his servant to go out quickly into the city (church) and bring in the poor, the maimed, the halt and the blind. The servant comes back and says its done, and yet there is room, The Lord said to the servant go out into the high ways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. and he said that none of those men invited, would taste of his supper. This is a parable that is depicting the situation within the church, today. The man is Jesus preparing the supper in the last or third feast (Tabernacles) that He will prepare (fulfill just as He did Pentecost). He invites many from the church (city) to come, but theyre to busy with there earthly things, like making a living, going on holidays, living the good life. When the Spirit reports to Jesus, He asks the Spirit to go into the streets and lanes within the city (church) to invite them to this great supper. These are all those that have been in the church, but for one reason or another are of the city in the streets and lanes. When the house is still not full He goes out of the city (church) and compels the down and outers to come into this great feast. When he says, that none, of these men that were bidden shall not taste of His supper, does not mean that they are not going to heaven. It does mean that they will miss out on the first resurrection, and the ruling with Christ in the millennium, and will not be resurrected till the Great White Throne Judgment, which is at the end of the one thousand year reign of the church, under Christs rule. After the thousand years are over, Satan is loosed for a little season. (Rev. 20:3b) He goes to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, and his vast army goes up against the camp of the saints and the beloved city, And fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours them. And the devil is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet already were, and they will be

tormented day and night forever and ever. (Rev. 20:7-10) John saw the great white throne Judgment, and the heavens and earth fled away, and there was no place found for them. And John saw the dead small and great stand before God, and the books were opened, and whose so ever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15). And I saw a new haven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth (earth & heaven before the flood) had come into view, and there was no more sea. (with the sea and oceans gone, lets the pre flood earth come into view) (most Bibles have an incorrect translation in this verse, passed away, should be come into view Rev.21:1 Rotham Ver.) After this John saw the Holy city new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall dwell with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, or crying, neither shall there be any more pain for former things have passed away. Rev 21: 3&4. He that over comes shall inherit all thinks, and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. Rev. 21:7 Let us all strive for what Paul strove for that I might know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3:10&11 Dave Loewen Triune Last Days Ministry

Youth Remembering God in the 21st Century

by Gary Young

The image of young people in the world today is not, generally speaking, a good one. People are afraid of assault and burglary, they fear a breakdown of society and the rise of an anarchic, drugriddled subculture. All this they lay at the feet of young people, and attribute it to their disrespect for elders, their disregard for all forms of authority and their lack of interest in anything associated with their parents' generation. Much of this image, it is true, depends more on media beat-ups and community perception rather than truth. Solomon rightly said "there is nothing new under the sun", and an examination of the books of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs, as well as a perusal of literature of all sorts from all ages and cultures, should readily tell us that teenage rebellion and angst are far from unique phenomena of our own times. The passage from childhood to adulthood has always been a traumatic one: a time that needs understanding, sympathy and kindness. It also needs a firm moral compass and fair, dependable support and guidance. Above all else, it needs Christ.

Solomon exhorted the young to "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" (Ecc. 12: 1). There can be a tendency to put off our obedience to Christ, as for example Felix tried (Acts 24: 25), but Solomon points out the time when we need to proclaim and carry out our allegiance to God - in our youth, not years later when our ability to serve Christ and the amount we can achieve for him have been diminished by the wasted years (Ecc. 12). There can be no doubt, then, that young people need Christ. They need His example, they need His guidance, and they need His salvation. As children mature toward adulthood, they experience many changes. They begin to desire independence and autonomy, they feel greater attraction to and interest in the opposite sex, and they begin to make the physical changes into adulthood. At the same time they are bombarded with temptations to sin as never before from their friends and from the commercial realm, their belief in God and the Bible is often questioned and even ridiculed by their associates and in their schooling, and they are required to make important decisions which are going to affect the conduct of their entire lives. With this in mind, it should hardly surprise us that these years can be difficult and confusing ones! The need for decisions and the presence of temptation and ungodly influences in the life of a young person reinforce the need for the guidance of God's Word during this time of life. Only by a strong adherence to the principles contained in the Bible will a young person be able to survive successfully and mature to a godly, confident and spiritually strong adult. Without such an influence, young people will be spiritually adrift, unable either to make the right decisions in their lives or to keep themselves out of trouble. Often, when young people fail to follow God, their chances of ever returning to Him are drastically diminished. In many cases, the pattern of their future lives is already set, and they drift into a pointless and spiritually unfulfilled life. How then can the church encourage its young people to stay close to God and make a life-long commitment to Him by rendering obedience to the Gospel and staying faithful? First, we must ensure that they receive a steady diet of "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20: 27). We should eschew the tendency seen so often in the world of "soft-pedalling" on sin, and instead point out the many ways in which the lifestyle being promoted to teenagers is in contradiction to God's Word. Solomon warned of the danger of youth following its own desires with little regard to the consequences: Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thine heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement (Ecc. 11: 9). Youth must be explicitly admonished of the consequences of sin. While the presentation of God's Word needs to be done so as to hold their interest, this is no excuse for ignoring the realities of sin and judgement. Indeed, as young people approach and pass accountability, they need more than ever to know that God will hold them accountable for their thoughts, words and deeds. This does not mean, however, that we can expect to plonk teenagers down in the worship assembly and perhaps the adult Bible class and expect them simply to absorb the required information. The truth of God's Word needs to be presented to them, at least some of the time, in

a way that is accessible and relevant to them, and in such a manner as they are able to question and discuss the material. This is where a teenage or young person's class can be invaluable. The material presented in such classes should ideally be both Biblically based and pertinent to the needs and struggles which are experienced by teenagers. For example, we have already mentioned the new range of temptations teenagers are confronted with. They need to be equipped with the knowledge of how, and why, to deal with such temptations - they need to know up-to-date and useful information about drugs, drinking, smoking and the like. They need to know about a Christian's attitude to sex and dating - here single-sex classes will be more appropriate, but we should ensure that both sexes receive this information. They need to be equipped with solid proof of the reliability of God's Word, and given the ability to use it. We must also accept that they will have questions and problems with all of these things, and the classes must be presented in such a way as to allow or even to encourage this involvement. In addition, young people should be encouraged to seek out the right kind of company. The Bible tells us "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (I Cor. 15: 33). Here youth groups and similar arrangements can be of great help. There are those who oppose such groups on the grounds that churches ought not to support activities which are primarily social. However, there are several things which need to be taken into consideration. First, when there is any kind of financial expense involved, such groups are usually funded by parents, not the church treasury, so the funding issue is something of a straw man. Second, Bible teaching and discussion, not to mention community outreach, can and should be incorporated into the format of such groups. Thirdly, we can be assured that if the young people of the church do not learn to enjoy the company and friendship of fellow Christian youth, they will look elsewhere for such companionship. It is absolutely vital that churches encourage and cherish an active and vibrant youth group, whether it be a formally organised group or simply occasional gatherings and outings. The time and effort expended on these should be regarded as valuable and well-spent. It is not only fellow Christian young people that can encourage youth to live godly lives. The church community at large must play an active role also. It has been observed that in more "primitive" societies the whole tribe or village participated in the upbringing of children and young people. Moreover, it has been observed that this process tends to produce young people who mature into active, functional and independent adults. Christians today have a great advantage because we are a part of a community that does, or at least can, fill the same role as the ancient tribe or village. Each adult needs to look on him or herself as responsible, at least in part, not only for their own progeny but for all the young people and children of the church. This is not to undermine the God-given role and responsibility of parents, but simply to assist wherever possible in the rearing of the young. By this means, young people can seek out mentors and models for their lives in addition to their own parents. They can be provided with people they can trust and depend upon in times of trouble, or when communication with their parents is difficult for some reason. Single parents can provide their children with admirable and godly role models from the opposite sex, in a way which is virtually impossible in the wider community. When young people are hurting, or confused, or upset, they can know that there is a supportive, godly and loving community that

they can rely upon. Eventually, they will take their rightful place in that community and be able to offer that same support to others. There is no doubt that it can be a difficult thing to be a young person today. But the life of a young person who has devoted him or herself to God is a beautiful thing. We should value the input they have into the church community, celebrate their achievements, cherish their open and trusting hearts, and help to guide them in their walk in Christ. Each young person can take heed to Paul's exhortation to Timothy: Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity (I Tim. 4: 12). By applying this to their lives, and by continuing steadfastly in it, young people can be valuable and important in their lives, both now and in the future. The people of God must encourage the young amongst them to strive to do this, and they must hold out their hands to support them as they do so. It has often been said that the young are the future of the church, and this is indeed true, for without their youth and energy the church would rapidly stagnate and grow old. We should also bear in mind, however, that in a very real sense the young are the church of today. They form a vital and essential part of the Lord's body, and we must ensure that in this coming century they have every opportunity to remember God and fashion their lives after His Son.
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outh And Career Empowerment SELF DEVELOPMENT (2)

April 14, 2011

Self Development through Reading LECTURE BY:Ayo Alonge &Shola Owolabi Part 1. Ayo Alonge INTRODUCTION Its been said that there are three kinds of knowledge: What you know ; What you know that you dont know; and What you dont know that you dont know.

What you know is an asset. What you know that you dont know isnt too difficult to handle. You can go out and find out! But what you dont know that you dont know could be dangerous to your life/health/career/business etc. Its information that you dont know exists. It could cost you your job, promotion, business, or something worse. What you dont know can, and often does, harm you. In fact, unknown to you it could be holding you back this very minute. If you develop the habit of reading, you will never be at a loss for information. You will either know what you need to know, know where to find it, know some one who knows it, or it will come looking for you! Reading What is Reading? Reading is an activity characterized by the translation of symbols, or letters, into words and sentences that communicate information and mean something to the reader. In literate societies, the ability to read and interpret texts has rewarded readers with higher social status and greater economic benefits than those who are illiterate. Reading as an activity employed four kind of comprehension:

Literal Reading Inferential Reading Critical or appreciative Reading Reorganizational Reading

Electronic Reading (eReading) eReading can be defined as the process of reading electronic format of information. In todays world, with the advancement in technology, information can be presented in other format rather than conventional format, which is in ink and paper. And this format is called a digital/electronic format. READING FOR SELF DEVELOPMENT Almost in any occupation or any activity reading is required. Today it is scarcely thinkable that one can achieve success along any line without the ability to read. Infact in order to lead a full and satisfying life; one must be able to read with clear understanding. Reading Ability versus Reading Habit You cannot build up a positive reading habit without acquiring reading ability.

Important Elements to Reading growth Physical Health 2. Mental Health 3. Intelligence 4. Background experience 5.Purpose and interest Reading and learning The complexity of the process that the mind engages on when reading include thinking, Predicting, Questioning, Evaluating, Defining and Redefining, which make learning possible. It is when you read and understand that you can say you have learned something new. You learn to read when you are young but you read to learn progressively when you are mature. You cannot have self development unless you understand, so link between reading and learning is Comprehension. Strengthen Your Reading Habit Research shows that if you read ten books a year, you are in the top few percent of all people as readers. Simply stated, it doesnt take much to be well read, but we do need to know how to get started. The following are ten suggestions to help you strengthen your reading habit ways to find and make more time for reading. 1. Always have a book around. 2. Set a reading goal. 3. Keep a log. 4. Keep a list. 5. Turn off the television. 6. Listen when you cant read

7. Join a reading group or book club. 8. Visit the library or bookstore often 9. Build your own strategy. 10. Drop Everything and Read. How You Improve Your Reading Speed Reading is a serious business. It is very possible that you find it you feel frustrated because you cannot read as you please? There are techniques, which you need to learn to increase your reading skills and make reading enjoyable. Are you telling yourself that reading fast is hard? Many of the roadblocks you face in going faster are mental, in your mind, and can be changed. Factors Responsible for slow reading Many people have developed bad reading habits that slow them down. See if you make any of the following errors.

Reading word for word Sub-vocalization Going back to read the line again Sweep eyes across the line

Comprehension Evaluation

part 2. Shola Owolabi READING FOR SELF DEVELOPMENT/IMPROVEMENTIntroduction: To triumph over the challenges posed by 21st century information explosion and complexity of living due to mixture of negativity and positivity that characterise civilization in our age reading becomes paramount. There are individuals that have over the years proved that it is not gender, colour, nationality or race, money, parental support etc alone that determine the greatness of a man but his exposure to the knowledge hidden in the writings of the learned and their witty inventions. We shall have the privilege of peeping into the summary of the lives of selected few of these people who have conquered their limitations through reading. Cases: Abraham Lincoln Daniel Webster George Washington Carver READING IS FOR DISCOVERY Dan.9: 2 I Daniel perceived (discovered) in the books Daniel had special relationship with God and was a man of prayer who was so used to receiving messages from God through dreams and diverse revelations but God never revealed what he had to discover through reading. This shows there is no substitute to reading. Even the Lord Jesus discovered his ministry through reading (Isaiah 61). He overcame the devil through reading (It is written constituted his reply to the devils temptation). John 4. Cases: Prof. Gabriel A. Oyibo Dr. Ben Carson COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS This piece is intentionally included to establish a solid argument for reading for self-discovery. It is to create a dichotomy between talent and acquired skills through reading. Talent is the special innate ability God has given every man. If we dare to exploit it, the sky is the beginning of our success. However, there are certain fields such as the intellectual terrain where talents alone are not required but years of rigorous study and effective participation in scholastic activities Cases:

Recent election in Liberia Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf VS George Weah Conclusion: In conclusion, I want to say that reading makes immigrant of us all. It takes us away from home, but, most importantly, it finds home for us everywhere. A reader soars and sees with the eyes of eagle. So, a reader, like the eagle soars against the intensity of the sun and does not fold when tempest rages. The atmospheric condition does not determine its home. While other birds migratedue to wheather condition, the eagle remains. We are in the generation where only those who can still soar in the midst of the tempest can survive. It is only we that are eagles in our minds that can survive despite all odds. Remain areader.
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SELF DEVELOPMENT (1)

April 14, 2011

Self Development Sharpening the axe.

Christian Youth Forum | CYF Lifeline 2008|

Catching Up In 1901, there was a meeting of scientists of that time in London. They came up with the following conclusions: It was not possible to fly a metal in the air and it was not possible for any vehicle to move at up to 36 miles per hour without choking whoever was in it. All these were according to the level of information available then. If such assertions were true, how then did we come about the aero plane? Knowledge keeps up doubling in every field in about every five years. By implication, what you knew about your vocation or career five years ago is already obsolete. If you are still operating your business or career on the strength of knowledge acquired five years ago, you are behind competition. The greatest leading edge of this age is to keep up by reading wide. Not just academic books. Read about people, places, and discoveries. Read biographies, novels, magazines, etc. When you read a mans book you peep into his mind. When you read about others you learn from their mistakes and harness their ideas. Than experiment with your life and not live to utilize the deductions why not read about others who tread such paths and learn from them? By virtue of information, the capacity of your mind is enormously enlarged.

The relentless studious life of high performers in various fields supports the fact that there is correlation between learning from books and performance in any profession; Anthony Robbins grew to become a consultant to companies like IBM, US Army, etc. by reading. Bill Gates, worlds richest businessman and greatest computer guru sets time aside every year just to update his knowledge consuming volumes of materials. Paul Yonggi Cho, the pastor of the largest church in the world with about 1 million membership said he spends 70% of his time studying. A university study found that almost one-third of all physicians were so busy working, that they were two years behind in the latest developments in their field. Albert Einstein said, The problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were when we created them. Seize every opportunity to keep growing by reading and intensive research in your field of endeavour. Study has shown that the men who have ruled the world were basically equipped through reading. The same study showed that these people read an average of 20 books a year. So, if you think your mental capability is only one fifth of these top shots why not read five times the volume they read, then, youll be at par. Reading 100 books a year isnt too much. Is it? A university study found that almost one-third of all physicians were so busy working, that they were two years behind in the latest development in their field.

Wisdom Capsules What really matters is not what happens to us but what happens in us. True faith has hands and feet. It takes action. John Mason. Struggle is the proof that you have not yet been conquered. Mike Murdock. The optimist sees the doughnut, the pessimist sees the hole. Mcland Wilson. New ideas pass through three periods: 1) It cant be done. 2) It probably can be done but its not worth doing. 3) I knew it was a good idea all along. Arthur Clarke. A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labor and there is an invisible labor. Victor Hugo. Blessed is a man who risks nothing for he shall lose nothing, gain nothing and become nothing. David Olaoye. Impossible is Nothing It is only called impossible because no one has done it yet.

The Wight brothers were told IMPOSSIBLE. Had they agreed, there would be nothing like an aero plane. Building a cathedral, all glass IMPOSSIBLE Robert Schuller did it in California. Transplant a human Heart IMPOSSIBLE Its been done over and over. Quit pursuing what ever you have in mind for any other reason but not because its IMPOSSIBLE. If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it. Albert Einstein.
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APPOINTMENT TO YOUR NEXT LEVEL

April 12, 2011

APPOINTMENT TO YOUR NEXT LEVEL The Lord our God spoke unto us in Horeb, saying ye have dwelt long enough in this mount.(Deut 1:6) Irrespective of our present situation (whether physical or spiritual matters Education, work, singleness, health, etc) there is always a time to move to the next level. There is always the next level that we need to move to in our lives both in the physical and in the spiritual. However, there are principles that we must understand and follow if we must connect to our next level. Some of these principles and the necessary actions that we require are summarized in this lecture as we must all of necessity move on to our next level in life. These principles are highlighted below in answering the question: How do I connect to my next level? (i) You must let go the past: This may include prejudices, past successes, failures etc. (Acts 10: 13 16). A time comes when you need to do things differently or have a new experience. Dont insist on the status quo (ii) Come down from your Carmel: Humility (Gen 24: 63 64). Not minding your privileged position at a higher altitude, dont forget that what will move you to the next level may be at a lower elevation. You may need to come down to that level to fully discover, appreciate and appropriate it. This will call for humility. (I Peter 5:6; Prov 18:12; Prov 22:4; James 4:10) Humility also involves meditation in prayers to God as a sign of dependence on God and not on our own wisdom or ability. You may need to take the position of a servant before you become the boss! The way up may be the way down! You may also need to loose before you gain! (iii) Let God do it His own way: (Romans.11: 33; 2 Kings 5)

God can meet the same need in different ways. (Ex 14:16; Joshua 3:8; 14-16; 2 Kings 2:8) Dont believe that you can determine the way the Lord will act at a particular time even if you have had a previous experience over the same matter or seen how God dealt with the problem in the life of another individual. Gods ways and means are limitless and He can choose the way and means to act over a particular problem differently as He may choose. Allow Him do it His own way. (iv) Prepare for that next level: Preparation leads to success. You need to prepare in prayer and fasting, (seek ye first the kingdom of GodMat 6:33). (v) Also prepare your heart (Prov.23:7). You may also need to improve on your training or skill or knowledge (2 Tim 2:15); Prov.4:7; Prov.24:5; Hosea 4:6). This may be spiritual knowledge or physical. (vi) You must believe that you can reach that next level: (Hab 1, Numbers 13; Number 14:28-38) You must not give up on God. The just shall live by faith (Heb 11:1-6; Hab 2:4) There is the need for persistency in prayers and expectation. Dont loose focus or loose heart because of what you are seeing even when they are contrary. (vii) Help the people you meet on the way as they may be your ladder to the next level: (Rebecca Gen 24:18; Joseph Gen 40 & 41; David 1 Sam 30:1-20). Be friend to those that may be feeble as you meet them today. They may be the path to your success tomorrow. (viii) Engage in fruitful service (1 Sam 9) As you do fruitful service, you may find yourself in the unexpected. Every act of fruitfulness has the potential of fruitful reward or encounter. (ix) Be expectant: What you dont expect you may not experience except God just in His special kindness grant it. Expectation is the mother of manifestation. Your next encounter may be the leading path to your next level. Be expectant (Act 3) (x) Dont give up until you get to your next level: (Saul I Sam 9; Elijah/Elisha 2 Kings 2: 1-12). Insist prayerfully on getting to your desired level. (xi) Remain connected to God: (John 15:5; Phil 4:13).

Remember that without God you are nothing. A Godless person will certainly end up a failure. In God lies true success. Also remember the word of God which says: what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul (Mt 16:26)

Finally arise, and shine for your light has come. (Isaiah 60:1) I welcome you to your next level in Jesus name amen.
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