Act 2: Scene 1

The UNSA Zeus meets with the Nrog ship commanded by Admiral Trill...unaware what the Admiral has inshore for the crew of the Zeus...

After the crew boards the ship they are escorted by the copy of the Nrog Ambassador, to the dining room which Trill waits his guess.

Admiral Trill: Please everyone have a seat. I am glad to have you here, please enjoy your meal I managed to procure some earth delicacies that you might enjoy after all your a long
way from your world, I'm sure you would enjoy a taste of home.

Ambassador Green: Admiral Trill I thought we would be taken immediately to the imperial cruiser to meet with the Emperor.

Admiral Trill: You will see the emperor very soon, but first a toast to the completion of our mission.

Narrator: After taking the drink the crew starts to doze off and falls asleep.

Admiral Trill: Bring in the metabots and transform them.

Guard: What about these humans?

Admiral Trill: Put them in the Brigg for safe keeping, we will bring them back to home world as guest of the Norg Empire.

Scene breaks to the Norg empiral cruiser in the Emperor suite where we see the Empress is in communication with a unseen
Receipt...

Empress Zagg: Yes my love, I think it's the only way...I have to sign off my husband is coming.

Enters the Emperor in the Emperor's Suite to join his wife.

Emperor Zagg: Hello my darling, we are under way to meet the humans, we will meet with them in a couple of days.

I just got off communicating with Trill, he said they met the humans and now escorting them to our position.

Empress Marta: Come my darling, you had a rough couple of days, that slug Lord Nagg got on your nerves what you need is a drink.

Emperor Zagg: Perhaps your right a little refreshment would be in order.

Empress Marta offers her husband a drink. After drinking, the emperor starts to choke.

Emperor Zagg looking surprised, gasping for air falls to the floor on his knees looks up to his wife asking. " Marta.. why?"

Empress Marta looking down on her dying husband smiles and says: " because my darling your weak."

The poison she gave to her husband acts fast, and leaves no traces after a few minutes of exposure.
The result is that it makes the victim appear to have a fatal heart failure.

The scene ends with Empress Marta walking to the computer and sends a message to her secret lover just two words.

Empress Marta: Computer send message to last receipt two words: It's done.

Act 2: Scene 2

Narrator: After she murdered her husband. The Empress Marta, stripped the body of her husband, and dragged his body in the bed.
She changed into her night attire, and called General Tagg and the High priest.
We find the scene opens with the empress sitting down by the bed where her dead husband is laying...

Empress Marta: Sniff....I don't know what happened, we were engaged in mating and all of a sudden he stopped breathing...sobbing

High priest: These things happens your majesty its not your fault.

General Tagg: Your majesty, since the reign of rule now falls to you, do you want to meet with the humans as scheduled?

Empress Marta: Yes General, my husband would have wanted it to continue despite what happens to him or me and in his memory we must complete what he started.

General Tagg: Very Well your majesty.

Empress Marta: Oh and General, please send word to Lord Nagg and dispatch him here at once.

General Tagg: Yes your Majesty.

Outside in the hallway of the Emperor   Suite the General and the High priest talks about what they just seen....

General Tagg: I want a complete autopsy preformed something don't look right here....

High priest: What are you suggesting General?

General Tagg: Your Eminence, It's my duty to investigate anything that happens on my ship.

High priest: But the Empress didn't request an autopsy and if we do one without her request, we will be turned into mutants!

General Tagg: Yes I know and that's just it, and do you fine it odd she didn't even requested it?

Scene breaks to see the UNSA Zeus which is now heading back to the Norg fleet.
On the way word reaches Admiral Trill that the Emperor is dead, and he also gets a message from Lord Nagg, when he arrives that he is to wait for new orders.
 
 
Act 2 Scene 3

The Scene opens finding the real crew and real earth ambassador Green in the Brigg waking up from the drug ed drink they took...
across from their cell is the real Norg Ambassador over hearing their discussion of their situation...

Ambassador Cynthia Green: Ambassador Xenn what is the meaning of this?!

Ambassador Xenn: That wasn't me ambassador, what assorted you on board was a metabot, it can transform itself to anything it is commanded to do..

Capitan Howard: What!? You mean to tell me we been cloned? And now our clones are manning my ship?

Ambassador Xenn: Yes, I'm sorry Admiral Trill is acting under orders from Lord Nagg, Gods knows what he has planned.

Commander Jons:  Says to Ambassador Green: Lady you just lead us right into a trap!

Captain Howard: That's enough commander, we can't start pointing fingers we need to escape that's our first priority.

Ambassador Xenn: There is no escape

Capitan Howard: With all do respect Ambassador, there's not such thing as an impossible escape.

Ambassador Green: Why are you in here Ambassador?

Ambassador Xenn: Admiral Trill didn't like the fact I oppose Lord Nagg's plan of ceasing your ship and using it to start a war.

Scene breaks when we see the captured UNSA Zeus now manned by clones of the crew, and the Norg ship commanded by Admiral Trill arriving meeting up
to the rest of the Norg fleet. The real crew of the Zeus along with the Norg Ambassador is transferred to the empiral Cruiser's Brigg.
We see the cloned crew and Ambassador Green clone standing in the passage way of the between airlocks, receiving new orders from Admiral Trill....

Admiral Trill: You have new orders you are to take the earth ship and attack all Norg outpost.
And has for you I have a special mission....

Enters General Tagg...
General Tagg: What is the meaning of this Admiral, why is the earth crew and our ambassador Xenn in my Brigg?
What? the?
Admiral Trill: No General you are not imaging you are seeing double, these are metabots, clones of the earth crew, and the lovely ambassador..I am under orders from Lord Nagg
and he out ranks both of us...Now if you don't mind General, let me do my duty and you do yours!

General Tagg: I intend to Admiral.

Act 2 Scene 4

Narrator: The Scene opens at the Universal Naval Space Alliance Command Center. Captain Peter Braddick Reports to Admiral of the Earth Star Fleet's office for some disturbing news. . .

Admiral Micheles: Come in Captain. I just gotten word that one of our destroyers the Zeus is attacking Norg military outposts.

Captain Braddick: That ship is commanded by Captain Howard, Admiral she is a up standing officer she wouldn't be attacking without orders from us.

Admiral Micheles: Exactly captain, and I need you to go and hunt down the Zeus and find out what is happening. We could be looking at a war we don't want if they aren't stopped.

Captain Braddick: Yes sir.

Admiral Micheles: Oh and Peter, I believe you know Ambassador Cynthia Green.

Captain Braddick: Sir?

Admiral Micheles: She is on board the Zeus, they were to meet with the emperor of the Norgs to negotiate a trade deal on energy technology, she was also on a mission of top level security I can't tell you anymore than that. I'm only telling you this because I know you are personally involved with her.

Captain Braddick: Sir?

Admiral Micheles:   Captain, not many things gets past me these days, it's a risk you took when becoming involved with a interstellar diplomat, she knew what she was getting into in accepting her mission, and you must clear your head and focus on finding the Zeus. 

Captain Braddick”: Yes sir.

 Admiral Micheles: I'm sure she's okay Pete, good luck.

Narrator: Scene breaks to see a shuttle pod from the UNSA Zeus flies away, while the mother ship sets off for it's next target.
Meanwhile on board the Norg Imperial Cruiser the Empress gets a visitor in the Emperor's Suite...

Empress Marta: Oh, am I glad to see you! The plan is under way my love.

Camera turns to see who she is talking to, it's Lord Nagg standing in the room.

Lord Nagg: Good, when we are home you will relinquish your rule to me.

Empress Marta: Yes dear, and the second phase of the plan is also underway.

Lord Nagg: (Kissing the Empress) Good soon we will get all we want.

Narrator: Scene breaks we see the High priest reporting his findings of the autopsy of the Emperor's body to General Tagg.

High Priest: General, I did the autopsy and found no traces of injury, or contaminants in his system.

General Tagg: I see, it doesn't make sense I knew him, he was in top physical condition and with no history of trouble of his hearts. Are you sure you explored all data?

High Priest: Matter of fact I did a little research on poisons, and there is a chemical known as Mask. It very effective and quick, once it kills you, traces of it quickly dissipates just as fast, leaving the hearts seeming like they just gave out.

General Tagg: Interesting, thank you, your Eminence.

Narrator: aboard the shuttle carrying Captain Peter Braddick to the UNSA Geronimo, Braddick remembers Cynthia and his last meeting.....

Peter Braddick: Cynthia, this is crazy! Going off meeting a alien race we know little about whose intentions are murky at best.

Cynthia Green: Pete, I met the Norgs and one of the only humans including the President met them, they want to trade with us energy technology, plus other technologies we can use in medical science, plus many other opportunities that can benefit us.

Peter Braddick: There's no way of me talking you out of this is there?

Cynthia Green: No there isn't, don't worry I'm sure it will be alright.

Narrator: Scene breaks back on board the Imperial Cruiser heading back with their prisoners to the Norg home world....where we see General Tagg and the High priest meeting privately.

General Tagg: Lord Nagg can't claim the throne until he is back on home world, after that he will have all the prisoners executed, we must get them off this ship before we reach back home.

High Priest Grill: You think the Empress will give up rule to him?

General Tagg: You think it's just a consequence that Nagg comes all the way here and then meets with the Empress in private?

General Tagg: I'll set off the fusion leak reactor alarm they will have no choice but to abandon ship for a brief period, and use escape pods, after the danger passes it will take sometime for the pods to come back, I'll see to it that one of the pods turns up missing.

High Priest Grill: I hope you know what your doing General.

Act 2 Scene 5:

Narrator: The Scene opens to fine the High Priest Grill confronted by two robot guard requesting him to accompany them to join Lord Nagg, Admiral Trill, and the Empress in the mutation chamber aboard the Imperial Cruiser heading back to the Nrog home world...

Robot1: Come with us your Eminence the Empress and Lord Nagg would like to ask you some questions.

Hight Priest Grill: Whats the meaning of this?

Robot 1: They are waiting for you in the mutation chamber, and request your presence.

High Priest Grill: I won't go anywhere!

Robot 1: You will come freely or we will carry you there. Take him!

Narrator: The two robots grabs the high priest and brings him to the mutation chamber where Admiral Trill, Lord Nagg, and the Empress is waiting.

Lord Nagg: Ah, there you are your Eminence come in please.

High Priest Grill: What's the meaning of this Lord Nagg I was dragged down here....

Empress Marta: We understand you did an unauthorized autopsy on the Emperor, don't try and deny it your Eminence one of your assistants told us about it. We want to know who told you preform the autopsy?

High Priest Grill: I answer to a higher power, not any of you.

Admiral Trill: Oh but you will answer our questions, put him in the chair!

Empress Marta: One last chance, your Eminence who gave the order to do the autopsy?

High Priest: May the gods have mercy on you. I have nothing more to say.

Lord Nagg: Okay, if thats how you feel...Proceed Admiral Trill. (flips the switch of the mutation chair)

High Priest Grill: AHHHHHH!

Narrator: Scene breaks we see Captain Peter Braddick on board the UNSA Geronimo's cargo hold, where he is confronted by his second in command John Rivers shows him prototype armor and weapons just brought on board...

Captain Braddick: Hi John, what gifts we got from command today?

Commander Rivers: Hey Pete, we got these suits of armor to use for hand to hand combat if we ever need them, the big boys sent these while you were on Earth. And we got these gun robots equipped with laser cannons, and guns, they can pound through a bulk head or steel wall like paper.

Captain Braddick: Good, how many of these toys they sent?

Commander Rivers: Enough for the crew to use either wearing the armor or use the robot.

Captain Braddick: How soon we can get going.

Commander Rivers: The fusion reactor is charged and ready to depart on your orders.

Captain Braddick: Great, set course for the last known location of the Zeus.

 Commander Rivers: The Zeus?

Captain Braddick: Yes, she was on a routine diplomatic mission, apparently diplomacy failed. The Zeus has been attacking Norg outpost, and we need to investigate.

Commander River: Attacking? She' s a light armed scout ship, not meant for heavy combat, doesn't make sense.

Captain Braddick: Yeah I know, the Norgs are almost making it easy for them, this smells of a setup.

Commander Rivers: Setup? You think were heading for war?

Captain Braddick: Yeah looks like that John, set course.

Narrator: The Scene breaks back on board the Norg Imperial Cruiser where the now transformed High Priest into a mutant starts spilling the beans telling them about General Tagg's order to do the autopsy and his plans for freeing the prisoners...Just has he was done telling them the plan a fusion link warning alarms sounds, people start heading for the escape pods, and the guards escorting the prisoners to one of the escape pods are confronted by General Tagg and a few trusted crew members....

Shots rings out  killing the two serpent guards escorting the prisioners.

General Tagg: Come it won't take them long to realize its a false alarm we need to get to escape pods.
Take the guard weapons you might need them.

Narrator: The group reaches the launch bay of one of the escape pods, when suddenly they are confronted by Admiral Tagg.....Gives the order to one of  those accompanying him to kill the alarm.

Admiral Trill: Nice try General. Whats that human phrase? “Nice try but no cigar”.

General Tagg: I'm taking these prisoners Trill, don't get in my way.

Admiral Trill: I see a traitor standing in front of me, and a bunch of spies. Just in time for a firing squad.

Narrator: Fire fight erupts which only three survives and manages to escape on the pod and folds into space.

Admiral Trill: Track them!

Crewman: To late sir, their gone!

Narrator: On the bridge of the Imperial Cruiser Admiral Trill reports to Lord Nagg...

Admiral Trill: Three escape my lord, General Tagg, the earth ship's captain, and the earth ambassador.

Lord Nagg: Fine them Admiral! They are the only ones that can expose us!
Admiral Trill: At once my lord, I have someone who might be useful in tracking them down, let me handle it.

Lord Nagg: Good you do that while I go on with the rest of the fleet back home.

Narrator: Scene breaks on board the Norg ship commanded Admiral Trill, where he speaks to his newest prisoner an alien race known as the Knars,  a wolf like creature which the Norgs never defeated, and pose a threat to their empire. They are warriors, and good trackers, who are only interested in protecting what's theirs.

Admiral Trill: I see you are resting comfortably (smiles)

Trog: What you want lizard? I'm gonna make a roast out of you at the first opportunity!

Admiral Trill: No you won't do that, not at first before you hear my deal for releasing you and your ship.

Trog: Oh why should I hear anything you have to say?

Admiral Trill: Because I have your mate, and if you don't do what I say, I'll kill her, and if anything happens to me she will die.

Trog: Why you!

Admiral Trill: You have one chance to have her back, by tracking down a escape pod which some prisoners used to escape, and a traitor to our people was among them. Once they are apprehended you both will go free.

Trog: You betray this agreement lizard you will become that roast I swear it!

Admiral Trill: Your ship is ready for departure with all the information you need about the pod and people were looking for.

 Narrator: (After Trog's Ship leaves heading to fine the pod, Admiral Trill tells the guard, “She served her purpose, execute her”)

Narrator: The scene ends in the office of the Earth planet Alliance.

Secretary: He will see you now

Visitor: Mr. President

End of Act 2 Written by, Peter Ripley

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 9:54 PM EDT

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GOD HAS JOINED HIMSELF TO THE UNIVERSE

From the truth for the world webpage

In Matthew 19 we have recorded an exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning the marriage relationship, and in Matthew 19:6, Jesus said, "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." This is true in the marriage relationship but it's also true in other relationships involving God.

We are going to look at the fact that God has joined himself to the universe. By that we mean we may see God in creation. We may know of the existence of God. The Bible affirms this. In Romans 1:18-20, the apostle Paul wrote, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse ..." Long ago the Psalmist declared in Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard." Acts 14:17 says, "Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."

The atheist tries to separate God from the universe by telling us this universe is here by mere chance, by organic evolution. But the universe cries out in response, saying, "God is!" There is abundant evidence of God's creation, or of God's existence in creation.

We are going to look at three valid arguments for the existence of God. The first is the argument from morality. What we mean by this is that man is a spiritual being with spiritual needs. He has a moral conscience which urges him to do that which he thinks is right. Mere matter is not moral. This desk is mere matter. It has absolutely no morality. Therefore, man's sense of right and wrong must have come from morality itself, from intelligence. It must have come from God.

All men have the urge to choose right and wrong. The conscience of man compels man to do what he thinks is right. When he doesn't follow his conscience, from whence does his capacity to feel guilt come? Where does it originate? It originates with God! Now, man's conscience may be wrongly trained, or wrongly educated, but that's not the point. The point is, there is a sense of morality. Man can lose that through hardening his conscience. His conscience can become seared (as the Bible says) as with a hot iron, or defiled. But, he was not created that way. There is a sense of morality.

The pure materialist cannot explain conscience. Animals do not have it. When a dog bites you he does not crawl off if scolded and spend time in remorse and grief over what he's done to you. In fact, chances are, if you don't get out of his way, he'll bite you again. Animals don't have the capacity to feel guilt, but man does. Thus, man is a moral being, created in the image of God. In Genesis 1:26, God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness", not a physical likeness, but a spiritual likeness, a moral likeness, with morality, with personality. We are different. God created us that way.

An easy way to remember this argument for God's existence is to just simply think of guilt. If we think of the name of God, the "G" might remind us of the guilt that God has given us the capacity to feel. That is a great blessing. Someone might ask, "Is it a blessing to feel guilt?" It is, indeed, if the guilt is based upon a knowledge of doing that which God has told us not to do. Thus, when we feel guilt, we have a way of escaping that guilt by turning to God through Jesus Christ. That produces gratitude. Once the guilt of sin has been removed, gratitude replaces it. Guilt is a blessing if it causes us indeed to do the right thing by turning to God.

A second argument for the existence of God is called the cosmological argument. The word "cosmos" is a word that means "order". When we talk about this cosmos we mean the universe. The cosmological argument is based upon the orderly arrangement of things and the fact that orderly arrangement is here. It is an effect which demands an adequate cause. Every effect demands an adequate cause. This desk again, using it as an illustration, is an effect. It demands a cause. What's an adequate cause for this effect? Did it just come into being by itself, perhaps, by an explosion that occurred and this was the result? That's not an adequate cause, that's not logical. Someone made it. So, there must be an adequate cause for this cosmos, this universe in which we live.

The cosmos is an effect produced by a primal cause, which from the very nature of the case must be a person. There's too much order here for anything else to be truth. Did order come from disorder? No. Thomas Aquinas was the first to formalize this argument in modern philosophy. Aquinas said: "That which does not exist begins to exist only through something already existing. Therefore, if at one time nothing was in existence, it would have been impossible for anything to have begun to exist. And, thus, even now nothing would be in existence, which is absurd." Simply stated, something cannot come from nothing but something exists; therefore, something has always existed. Now, can this something be mere matter? No. The cause of anything must have the qualities of that which is caused and more, even greater, qualities. What are these qualities then? They would have to be qualities of being, qualities of personality, not just qualities of mere substance or matter. God created rocks, does that mean that God is a rock? No, He has to have qualities greater than the rock. He created mind and personality and volition. He must have these qualities and He does.

This universe exhibits order. This is the very meaning of cosmos. But, can order come from disorder? Can a rational being come from an irrational being? But, a rational being exists, therefore, a rational being has always existed. That rational being is the Supreme being, God Almighty.

An easy way to remember this argument is to think of order. The "G" in "GOD," we're saying, represents "GUILT." The "O" now represents "ORDER." So, as we think of the name of God, thus far we have the guilt, the great blessing to feel guilt, a capacity to feel that animals do not have; then, order, the cause to effect argument, or the argument from order, the cosmological argument.

The third argument is the teleological argument. We might just call it the argument from design because that's what is involved. This argument compliments, really, and adds to the cosmological argument. It calls attention to the interrelation of the parts of the universe to produce something that is good. Remember, the cosmological argument, the argument from cause to effect, demands a cause for the order of things now in existence. The teleological argument, or the argument from design, simply says this order of things was so designed with some purpose. So, these two arguments go hand in hand. William Paley set forth this argument back in the 18th century.

The creation shows the glory of God. Hear what the Psalmist declares in Psalm 8:1, "O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!"

There are so many examples of design in this universe. The earth orbits around the sun. But in so doing, it departs from a straight line by only one ninth of an inch every 18 miles. Let's say that in it's orbit around the sun the earth deviated by one 10th of an inch or by one eighth of an inch - just that much either way, what would happen? We would burn to death because we would be that much closer in the orbit, or we would freeze to death because we'd be that much farther away. Just that much deviation would bring death by freezing or death by burning.

The distance of the sun from the earth is 93,000,000 miles. Let's say that we increase that distance by 10%, what happens? We freeze. Let's lessen that distance by 10%. We burn up. Just 10%! Chance? It shows design, doesn't it?

Look at the moon, 240,000 miles from earth. Move it in by one fifth of that distance, what would happen? Twice a day there would be tidal waves over most of the earth of between 35 and 50 feet high.

The human body is one of the most marvelous examples of design in existence. It is made up of some 100 trillion cells, some so small that it would take over 6,000 laid end to end to cover one inch, yet, each cell intricate and complex to the extreme. Each cell has 46 chromosomes, each containing DNA which determines the hereditary traits. These traits are locked into the DNA structure of every cell.

How do the cells in the human brain work? A man by the of W. Gray Walter, a British neurophysicist, stated that it would take 10 billion electronic cells, occupying the space of about one and a half million cubic feet, to build a facsimile of the human brain. There is no question that God is responsible for the design of the human brain.

Charles Darwin, the author of Origin of the Species, the evolutionist, said of the human eye, "The eye with all its inimitable contrivances could have been formed by natural selection, seems (I freely confess) absurd in the highest degree." He further stated, "If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous successive modification, my theory would absolutely break down." But his theory has absolutely broken down, and every other theory of evolution breaks down in the face of such intricacy of design. The eye has one hundred and seven million cells with seven million cones allowing sight in full color; one hundred million rods allowing sight in blacks, whites and grays. The eyes are connected to the brain by over 300,000 nerves and can detect light as dim as one, one-hundred trillionth of a watt. How could it have evolved? It could not.

What "intermediate state" between no eye at all and a perfect eye could nature have "selected" to be passed on to successive generations? It's an impossibility. As the Psalmist declared, "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well" (Palm 139:14).

If only every soul knew well the works of God, and if man would start attributing the works of creation to the Father above, rather than to some mythical mother nature! God the Father created all things. Design gives evidence of such. An easy way to remember this teleological argument is to think about design and let the "D" in "GOD" represent design.

God has joined himself to this universe and "what God has joined together, let not man separate." No wonder the Psalmist declared in Psalm 14:1, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good." Yes, the writer of Job, says in Job 12:7-9, "But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this,"

We should see from creation itself that evolution is an impossibility, that creation is the only logical answer, and that truly the Bible is right when it tells us in its very first words, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org   
     

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 7:03 PM EDT

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Okay, I made a few spelling and grammor errors in the video, goes to show what happens when you don't use your word processor progam. Anyways here is the complete ACT 1 of 3560 AD with corrections.

3560AD act 1 Scene 1

Narrator: Our Story begins in the Palace of the Norg Empire a race of alien beings who built their empire through conquest,
and enslaving worlds they conquered..Now a new emperor emerges with new reforms which some in the empire aren't ready to accept...

General Tagg: The Cruiser is ready for departure your majesty.

Emperor Zagg: Very good General Tagg, the empress and I will accompany you shortly.

Lord Nagg: Your Majesty, I must protest! Entering into a trade agreement with a species we
only became aware of a year ago is foolishness!

It goes against our tradition of conquest, we conquer planets
and take the resources we need, and make slaves of those we conquer!

Not make trade deals!

Emperor Zagg: Enough! Lord Nagg, the decision is made if this empire is to join the interstellar
community we must change with the times. Besides they can more than just trading partners.

Lord Nagg: But we can get all of the salt water we need by conquest!

Emperor Zagg: Enough! General, we will be with you after the blessing of the High priest bless this trip.

The High Priest: May the God's guide you on your journey your majesty.

Act1 scene 2

Lord Nagg: Fool, he'll destroy everything we are, he must be stopped!

Lord Nagg: Get me Admiral Trill!

Robot1: Yes my lord (walks away)

Enters Admiral trill

Admiral Trill: You requested me Lord Nagg? I am about to depart with the fleet on our way to
meet the humans, so I don't have a lot of time.

Lord Nagg: Don't worry Admiral you'll catch up to them, we have a threat to the empire.
The emperor is leading us down a path that we as Nrogs can't accept.

Admiral Trill: I always thought conquest was the more easier way instead of trade deals.

Lord Nagg: He must be stopped at all cost.

Admiral Trill: What do you propose?

Lord Nagg: I want you to wait until you are in deep space, then with your crew board the empiral
cursier and arrest the emperor and empress and bring them back here to the mutant chamber, and wait for me.

While I take a battle cruiser and cease the earth ship they are going to meet.
Once the emperor and empress is in custody, Ill destroy the imperial cruiser using the earth ship so it will make it look
like the emperor and empress been killed while trying to make this trade deal.

Admiral Trill: What you suggesting would be considered Treason Lord Nagg.

Lord Nagg: Treason? or restoring order to this empire.

Admiral Trill: He has no heir to the throne, that would leave you to become emperor

Lord Nagg: We must do this or become weak and loose our power over the worlds we conquered over
the centuries.

Admiral Trill: I understand....Your Majesty!

Admiral Trill: But, may I suggest a better idea...Enter!

Enters Metamorphosis bot
Admiral Trill: I like to introduce this metamorphosis bot, he can become anything or one we choose to do, including a human.

Lord Nagg: This has possibilities, please do tell.

Admiral Trill: We can use these Meta bots short for metamorphosis, to search out the earth ship meeting the empiral cruiser,
and when they metamorphose into humans they can attack using the earth ship, capture the emperor and empress, and bring them on board their ship.
And then blast the imperial cruiser....making it look like the humans kidnap the emperor

Admiral Trill: Then we will bring the emperor's party on board our ship, and bring him back home and you'll meet us at the mutation chamber.
Then the metabots will fly the earth ship into the nearest star, the only records of what happen will be in our hands.
What the people of our world will see is the imperial cruiser being destroyed by the earthlings, paving the way for war.
The Emperor doesn't know these metabots exists, they were made covertly and kept for such occasions.

Lord Nagg: Very well Admiral...proceed.

Act 1 Scene 3

Emperor Grogg & Ambassador Tenn awaits Admiral Trill at the Nrog Space Port.

Enters Admiral Trill

Emperor Grogg: Ah Admiral there you are, Have you met Ambassador Tenn?

Ambassador Tenn: Admiral nice to meet you.

Admiral Trill: Pleasure sir.

Emperor Grogg: Admiral, I would like you to accompany us on the empiral cruiser.

Admiral Trill: I be honored your majesty, but I think it would be best I go on my ship, ahead and how does that human
phrase goes, "blaze the trail" after all we don't want to be going into an ambush or trying to start a conflict...ha. ha.

Emperor Grogg: Very well Admiral, that might be wise, take the ambassador with you, he can meet with the humans and help make the meeting go
smoothly. Then you assort their ship to the meeting place.

Admiral Trill: Very good your Majesty, Ambassador, if you will come with me.

Emperor Grogg: Good luck gentlemen

Act 1 Scene 4

Narrator: Aboard the UNSA Destroyer Zeus Captain Gill Howard commanding...

Capitan Howard: We are transporting the Earth Ambassador to meet with the Norg delegates.
They say the Emperor himself will be one of them. Of course I never met a Norg but nevertheless were three days away to the meeting the Emperor's Cruiser
I am apprehensive at the true natural of this meeting, has to more than just a window dressing trade deal.

Capitan Howard: Perhaps the good Ambassador can provide answers to my questions.

Walks to the Ambassador's Quarters.

Capitan Howard: I hope the accommodations are acceptable  Ambassador Green.

Ambassador Green: Yes Capitan I realize space is limited on a Star Destroyer. However I do
appreciate you giving up your quarters for this mission Captain.

Capitan Howard: Not at all Mame,I'm used to sharing bunks, but I do have a question on the real nature of our mission, it cant be just
an exchange of technology on energy.

Ambassador Green: Captain you should know not to listen to rumors, besides if it were anything else other than a trade agreement,
you should also know I am not a liberty to discuss it with anyone except to the Nrog Emperor.

Capitan Howard: I understand Ambassador, I am responsible to this crew safety and yours, I just want to make sure we will be ready for a fight if need be.

Ambassador Green: I'm sure there's need for concern Captain, now if there's nothing further.

Captain Howard: Have a good trip Ambassador the galley is open around the clock.

Ambassador Green: Thank you Captain.

Howard walks away into the bridge.

Act 1 Scene 4b

Narrator:  Aboard the Norg space craft carrying Ambassador Xenn to meet the humans, Admiral Trill announces their true mission to the crew.

Admiral Trill: You are all here to obey my commands without question.

Admiral Trill: When we meet with the human ship, we are going to invite them aboard. And when I give the word
cease them, understood?!

Crew: Yes sir!

Admiral Trill: The Emperor don't trust these humans, and has no intention honoring any agreement with those are inferior to us!

Enters Ambassador Xenn

Ambassador Xenn: What!? Admiral that isn't what the Emperor said!

Admiral Trill: A change of plans Ambassador, goes with a change of leaders.

Ambassador Xenn: This is treason! Who gave the order to cease these humans?

Admiral Trill: Emperor Nagg of course, well soon to be emperor, and you will go along with this plan or you'll or face the humans same fate!

Ambassador Xenn: Lord Nagg?!

Admiral Trill: Yes, he see the ways of our culture being corrupted by a weak emperor who seeks trade deals to inferior beings like the humans rather than
honoring our traditions,by conquering them!  He is the traitor!

Admiral Trill: Now you have a choice Ambassador, comply or we will have a metabot transformed into you, so we will have a more compliant ambassador, and you
will be put in the Brigg until we are done. Then we will eject you into space! What will it be ambassador?

Ambassador Xenn: One of these days Trill you and Nagg will pay!

Admiral Trill: Id hope you be more willing to cooperate but since you are not in the spirit of compliance at least you will be in body.

Admiral Trill: Cease him!

two guards take hold of Ambassador Xenn, while a metabot enters the room and walks up to him.
and transform itself into the likeness of Ambassador Xenn.

Admiral Trill: See Ambassador, a more cooperative Ambassador. Guards take him to the Brigg until were done.

Two serpent dragon like guards assorts the real Ambassador Xenn to the Brigg..

Ambassador Xenn: You wont get away with this Trill! Or Nagg that matter!

Scene 5

Captain Howard: Nothing to worry about huh? Wonder if she ever heard of the expression beware of Greeks bearing gift.

Ambassador Green enters the bridge in time to over hear the captains comments.

Ambassador Green: Yes I have actually Captain. And I don't think that comment appropriate do you captain?

Communication Officer: Sirs! We just got a hail from the Nrog vessel, they say their carrying the Norg Ambassador, and are inviting us to join them aboard their ship
for dinner.

Ambassador Green: Well now captain nothing to worry about a simple meet and greet, and we are on our way to meet the empire.

Captain Howard: Mame, I don't like it, it just don't feel right, its sort of like being asked out to dinner from someone you just met.

Ambassador Green: Capitan you have to learn not all living things in this galaxy acts like we humans. The Norgs treat having dinner is like a hand shake, to refuse would be an insult.

Capitan Howard: I just hope we wont end up being dinner, ensign tell them we will be glad to attend.

End of Act 1: Written by Peter Ripley

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 3:06 AM EDT

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GOD HAS JOINED HIMSELF TO THE BIBLE

From the Truth for the World webpage

Many people deny the Bible is the Word of God, God's revelation of Himself to us, but many others have clearly seen the overwhelming evidence. We must respect it, obey it, and see it as the singular standard of authority for our lives. As we apply it to our lives and live it as we should, then we enjoy peace, comfort, and the hope of eternal life.

Everything depends upon our attitude toward the Word of God. Do we view it as the Word of Almighty God? Clearly there are passages that tell us Jesus intended for His Word, the Word of God, to endure for all time to come. In Matthew 24:35, Jesus says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." Peter writes in I Peter 1:25, ""Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." In 2 Tim. 3:16,17, the apostle Paul affirms, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." Nothing is left out; everything we need is furnished through the Word of God.

There really is no comparison between the Bible and other writings. The works of Homer have come down to us in 20 modern languages, Tolstoy's work in 40 languages, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress lives today in 118 languages. But, the Bible, in whole or in part, has been translated in over 1300 languages and dialects. The French philosopher, Voltaire, predicted that, in less than 100 years from his time, Christianity itself would have passed into history. Well, the house in which he lived was later a depot for the Geneva Bible Society, and it was said that his old printing press was actually used to print Bibles. Voltaire was wrong, because Jesus was right when He said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

These words have been written about the Bible: "It has weathered all the storms of hate. It has withstood all the thunderbolts of wrath. It has triumphed over the edicts of tyranny. It has endured all the anathemas of infidelity. It has conquered all the gnawing teeth of time. It has outlived, out-lifted, out-looked, out-loved, out reached, out ranked, and out-blessed all other books."

But the Bible has it's critics—those who have leveled, and continue to level, attacks against it, yet, without foundation. Let us look at some of the great truths of the inspiration of the Word of God, the inspiration of the Bible. Each of these points will begin with a "P" and, hopefully, will be easy for us to remember. The arguments will clearly tell us God has joined Himself to this book. It's His book, His word. He inspired the writing of it through His Holy Spirit.

PREPARATION. How can there be such unity and harmony in the word of God, considering that it was written over a period of some 1500 years by more than 40 different men? Well, it was all orchestrated or directed by the inspiration of Almighty God.

We might liken that to a block of stone from which 40 different sculptors each took away a piece. Each would work on his piece for a time; and, then, when all the pieces were brought back together, they formed a beautiful statue, a great work of art. How could that be done? The only way would be to have someone masterminding it, according to a pattern or a plan that had been given them.

That's exactly what we have with the Bible. We have Someone masterminding its preparation. We have the Master of the Universe, the God of Heaven, through the Holy Spirit, inspiring the 40 or so writers of this book over a period of 1500 years to write it just as God wanted it written, with perfect harmony, absolute unity, and with a great theme of redemption, or the salvation, of mankind, through, ultimately, the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Oh, what preparation has gone into the producing of this book, and how it speaks to the inspiration of every page, of every word, recorded by the inspiration of God, thus, completely accurate in every way!

PEOPLE The people depicted in the Word say something about the inspiration of this Book. When man is writing about a great person, he tends to gloss over the inadequacies or the wrongs of that great man, but not the Bible. It depicts both the good and the bad qualities of its characters with complete and absolute fairness and objectivity, as no other book would do. Think of the great king of old, David, one who was called "the man after God's own heart." He was a great man, yet, he sinned. His sins are pointed out. His shortcomings are set forth in fairness and objectivity. Such is the case with every character depicted in the Bible. Man would not write a book in this way, but the people depicted in the Bible show it is written by the inspiration of God.

PROPHECIES How many prophecies there are that are fulfilled in the greatest detail in the Bible! Many Old Testament prophesies are fulfilled in complete detail in the New Testament. We see the principle of the fulfillment of prophesy and that it shows God is the author of the book in Isaiah 41:21-23. God, writing through the prophet, says, "Present your case," says the LORD. "Bring forth your strong reasons," says the King of Jacob. "Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; Let them show the former things, what they were, That we may consider them, And know the latter end of them; Or declare to us things to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, That we may know that you are gods; Yes, do good or do evil, That we may be dismayed and see it together."

In other words, in challenging false prophets, or false gods, God says through His prophet Isaiah, "You predict the future. You show us the things that are to come. Let this be clear evidence that you have divine power." They could not do so, but God has done so. Prophecy is a tremendously powerful proof of the inspiration of the Word of God. It's interesting this same prophet Isaiah could mention a man by the name of Cyrus, King of Persia, call him by name as the one who would ultimately issue the decree that would allow God's people to return from Babylonian Captivity under the Persian reign. When did he mention Cyrus by name? More than 100 years before Cyrus was ever born! How could it have been done? Only by the inspiration of God. Hundreds of prophecies relating to Jesus Christ are made in the Old Testament and fulfilled in minute detail in the New.

The Bible makes statements concerning science, geography, or medicine that could not have been made, other than by the inspiration of God, because these statements reveal things not known until hundreds or thousands of years later. This is called scientific foreknowledge. In Leviticus 17:11, Moses says, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul." Blood has always been important in God's scheme of redemption. There were animal sacrifices made under the old covenant that pointed to the ultimate shedding of the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which would take away the sins of the world [as we respond and are obedient to the teachings of the Gospel].

How could Moses have known the life of the flesh is in the blood? Haven't we always known the life of the flesh is in the blood, that if we drain the blood from the body we die? No. In fact, in one point in our history, during the time George Washington, the "father of our country," lived, bloodletting was still practiced. It was believed that by letting out the blood, one let out the disease. Of course, this was not true, but George Washington was bled to death in the process. It was not helpful, but harmful. How, did Moses say "the life of the flesh is in the blood," when we really didn't understand that concept for hundreds upon hundreds of years thereafter? By the inspiration of God.

In Job 26:7, the writer says, "He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing." How did the ancient writer of Job know that God has hung the earth upon nothing, that it is suspended by gravitational forces? Have we always known that? Certainly not. We have had fanciful ideas such as Atlas' supporting this earth on his strong shoulders, or the earth's swimming in a cosmic sea on the back of a giant turtle—neither idea very scientific and both certainly false. How did the writer of Job so long ago say the Lord hangs the earth upon nothing? By inspiration, and only by inspiration.

PRESERVATION. The fact the Bible has been preserved down through time, despite it's attackers and critics, despite those who would have set it aside, despite those who predicted it would never last, is a proof of its inspiration. How has it survived? How has it been preserved? Through the providence of Almighty God. We don't have the original manuscripts of the Bible, but we don't need the original manuscripts. More than 5,000 copies of the New Testament are available and have been compared, so that we can know with absolute certainty the text we have of the Word of God is truly accurate.

Why was it preserved as it was? Why has it come down through generation after generation as it has? Because, Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but my word shall not pass away." God, in His providence, has preserved for us down through time accurate translations of His inspired Word given to the original writers, that we might know with certainty there is abundant proof for the validity, the accuracy, the genuineness of the Bible text we have. Without question, there is more manuscript evidence for this book than any other great book written by mere man.

PRODUCT The product of the Word is a pure life of peace, the result of a complete transformation that can only come through obedience to the inherently powerful, inspired Word. Paul urged the Roman Christians to continue to transform their lives by feeding upon the Word of God. He commended the Ephesian elders to the Word of God, which is "able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."

As H. L. Hastings put it, "There are men who study philosophy, astronomy, geology, geography, and mathematics. But, did you ever hear a man say 'I was an outcast, a wretched inebriate, a disgrace to my race, and a nuisance in the world, until I began to study mathematics, and learned the multiplication tables...since that time I have been happy as the day is long. I feel like singing all the time. My soul is full of triumph, and peace and health and blessing have come to my desolate home once more'?"

The Word of God will cause one to say, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).The word of God will cause me to say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7,8). The Word of God will cause me to say that I look forward to the heavenly home of the soul as a result of my sweet and continual obedience to the word of God, which is able to build me up and to give me an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org 

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 11:46 AM EDT

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The following article is taken from the Truth for the World:

GOD HAS JOINED HIMSELF TO JESUS

Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. He came forth from Heaven itself. He was equal with God but came to earth as the Son of God, lived, died, and was raised from the dead for the salvation of all mankind.

Many believe in God but deny that Jesus is His Son. We cannot accept the fact that God is, but at the same time deny Christ is His Son. One cannot come to God and be pleasing to God, except by Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." We cannot come to God in obedience without coming through Jesus Christ.

The PROMISE of God. The fact that Jesus came to this earth was not an after-thought. It was not an accident. God promised to send His Son to bring about the forgiveness of sins for all who will avail themselves of the Gospel plan. Many of the Old Testament writers prophesied of His coming, clearly showing that God always intended to join Himself to Christ, that Christ was to be the culmination of God's plan for saving man.

In Genesis 3, we read that Satan, who had taken the form of the serpent, deceived Eve, who, in turn, caused her husband to eat of the forbidden fruit. Thus, man fell into sin and, by doing so, separated Himself from fellowship with God. But, God, in His mercy and love, began a plan and set forth a promise in Genesis 3:15, ultimately to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the one who would make possible the reconciliation of man to God. He said to the serpent, "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." That was the first promise that God would send Jesus Christ. He would come forth from the tomb after His crucifixion, and, in doing so, He would deal a fatal blow to Satan. The minor blow (the bruise to the heel) Satan would give Christ would be the crucifixion. Satan would think that, in bringing about the crucifixion of Christ, he had won the victory, but that would only be a minor blow. In coming forth from the grave, Jesus would foil Satan's plan and would deliver a fatal head wound to Satan.

In Genesis 4 is recorded the first worship experience seen with Cain and Abel. In that worship to God, the sacrifice was to be a lamb, the firstling of the flock, and Abel pleased God by making that offering. In that offering we have a picture of Christ, who would ultimately be "the Lamb of God," as John said in John 1:29, "who takes away the sins of the world." God was unfolding His plan. He set it in motion by requiring the animal sacrifices, the firstlings of the flock. The lamb Abel offered prefigured, or pointed toward the time when the ultimate Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, would shed His blood to bring about forgiveness of sins. The blood of bulls and goats in animal sacrifices was only typical of the blood that had to be shed ultimately on the cross to save us from sin, the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God.

In Genesis 5, we see the genealogy of Christ, the line of people through which Jesus ultimately would come. In Genesis 6 God reveals to us the principles of redemption that would ultimately be realized in Christ. When God would destroy the world by flood because of the wickedness of mankind, God showed grace to Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous, obedient man. We see Noah's faith, and the principles by which God would save man are seen way back in Genesis—grace coupled with man's obedient faith.

In Genesis 12 we find God's making a promise to Abraham who was a part of the line through which the Christ would ultimately be born. We read in Genesis 12:1-3, "Now the LORD had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'" This was not only a promise to Abraham to make of his seed, or his descendants, a great nation (the nation of Israel), but it also contained the promise of a Savior Who would ultimately come and through Whom all nations of the earth would be blessed spiritually, because of the sacrifice of the sinless Son of God.

As part of this plan and the unfolding of it ,God gave Israel a law—the Law of Moses, also at times called the Law of God, or just the Law. But this law was to point the way to Jesus Christ. It was not intended to be a permanent covenant but a temporary covenant. It had its specific purpose and design. It was to point out the sinfulness of sin and to show how much man needed a savior, so that he would be prepared, hopefully, to receive Christ when He ultimately came. Many of the Jews took the Law and cherished it to the point that they refused to see it was simply a temporary law to be changed when Christ came. They changed its purpose. They added their traditions to it and became so tied to the Law they would not give it up when Christ came to give the new Law, His law. But we must keep in mind that this Law of Moses which God gave to Israel was simply to show the need for a perfect sacrifice to redeem, or to save the people. The Law of Moses was temporary.

In Romans 10:4, the apostle Paul tells us that Christ was the very purpose for the Law, the end of the law. The very purpose of the law, in other words, was to point men to the Savior, Jesus Christ. Colossians 2:14 also shows the law was temporary and that it was to last only until Christ came to die on Calvary and give us His new Law, the New Testament. There Paul writes, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross." We could not be perfectly justified by the law of Moses. It was necessary that Christ shed His blood and bring into existence His Law, the Law of faith, by which man, by the grace of God, through his obedient faith in Christ, could be saved.

Many other passages show the contrast between the Law of Moses (which was temporary and to lead us to Christ) and the Law of Christ which is also called "faith", or "the system of faith". In Galatians 3:23-25, we have another passage that is a critical passage to this point: "But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." The law of Christ went into effect after the death of the one who made the testament, and that is Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews makes that argument in Hebrews 9:15-17.

Another key passage is Hebrews 1:1-3. There the writer clearly shows that it is Christ to Whom we give our obedience now: "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," The writer clearly says that in time past God spoke by the prophets in various ways; but now, at the end of this time, in the last days, the Christian dispensation, He has spoken unto us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament, the Law of Moses, is not the law under which we live today. We live under the Law of Christ, the system of faith. But one might ask, "What then is the value of the Old Testament?" The Old Testament is inspired of God, and it contains more than just the Law of Moses, so its value is tremendous to us. We really could not understand the New Testament if it were not for the Old Testament.

What we need to appreciate is that the Law of Moses itself has been taken out of the way, nailed to the cross, and we serve under the law of Christ. We can't serve under two laws at the same time. When a constitution of a nation, for example, is changed (the system of government is changed), then that newer system obviously takes precedence over the old. The same is true with the law of Christ. It takes precedence over the old law, which served its purpose and then was taken out of the way.

The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 15:4, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." The Old Testament writings are of tremendous value. Many of the principles contained in the Old Testament writings are eternal principles, and the examples recorded there are valuable to us today. Where do we learn of God's creation? In the book of Genesis, a part of the Old Testament. There are examples of obedience and disobedience, prophecies pointing to Christ—all of these are in the Old Testament and are of tremendous importance and value. They are inspired of God.

The Law of Moses given to Israel was for a temporary period of time throughout their generation. It does not have application to us today because Jesus came to fulfill that Law, to take it out of the way, nailing it to His cross. Thus, we are no longer under that Law.

PROPHECIES clearly tell us that God has joined Himself to Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet says, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." In Isaiah 9:6,7, the prophet tells us, "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." Isaiah 53 prophesies of Christ's suffering, of His humiliation and death upon the cross. Micah 5:2 prophesies Christ's birth in Bethlehem Ephrathah. There were two Bethlehems in Christ's time and the prophet specified one, exactly where Christ was born. John the baptizer is spoken of as the forerunner of Christ by the prophet Malachi, in Malachi 3:1. The resurrection of Christ is clearly foretold in passages such as Psalms 16:10. In fact, there are over 300 prophecies about the birth, life, the ministry, the death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The PERSON of Christ . God and Christ were joined. Jesus was on earth carrying out the mission of the Father. In John 1:2-34, Jesus is described as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." John 1:1 tells us Christ was with the Father before the world began. In John 2, we see the all-knowing nature of Christ. John 3:16 gives the golden text of the Bible, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." In John 8:41, 42, 56-58, it is clear that Jesus came from God, that He was eternally present with God the Father. John 10:30 simply states, "I and my Father are one."

We must become one with God and Christ to have hope of eternal life. We become one with God and Christ, and we are added to the one church, the New Testament church, by belief in Christ, repentance of sin, confession of the name of Christ, and burial in baptism for the forgiveness of our sins.

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 11:04 AM EDT

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CHRIST: OUR HOPE

From the Truth for the World webpage

The world places hope in the wrong things. Jesus is our hope to overcome our sins. He is also our hope to overcome worry and anxiety. He is the central figure of the Bible. It is amazing that preachers spend so little time preaching about Jesus Christ. Some hardly mention Him. Week after week, they attempt to correct the problems of the church, and often it is the case that Christ is not mentioned. As one good man said, "The members take their beating and go home." But, please consider that Christ is our only hope.

CHRIST IS OUR HOPE FOR SALVATION. The angel said: "You shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Nobody can save himself. After we have done all things commanded, we are still unprofitable servants (Luke 17:10). Paul wrote, "Salvation is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2 Timothy 2:10). Jesus said, "The Son of man came to seek and save that which is lost" (Luke 19:10). "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

What is Christ to you? An old preacher once said: "This audience is too generous. Those on the front pews pass the message back to those on the next pew, and so on to the back row, and they pass it out the door." But someone says: "Christ is all the world to me," or "He is my Saviour," or "He is my everything." Others feel that "Christ means nothing to me; I have no part or lot with Him; or I am not interested."

Christ must first be our Saviour. The gift of God is eternal life through Christ (Romans 6:23b). This was never said before of any prophet, priest, or king. He is our Saviour because He is willing to save and desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). He came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) and invites all men to come unto Him (Matthew 11:28-30).

Christ can save to the uttermost those who come to God by Him (Hebrews 7:25). He is not our Saviour simply because He can save, but the sinner must come to Him in order to be saved. He stands at the door and knocks, but everyone must open to Him (Revelation 3:20). There is salvation in no other name than that of Christ, but all must accept Him (Acts 4:12). Each one is responsible for his own salvation (Acts 2:40).

CHRIST IS OUR DELIVERER FROM SIN AND DEATH. Without Him we can do nothing. He knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and provides the way of escape (2 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13). Everyone desiring salvation should feel as the apostle Paul. Temptations to him were strong, but he said: "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God--through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 7:18-25)! Have we felt the same? Can we answer as did Paul? Christ died to deliver here and hereafter (Galatians 1:4).

Nobody can deliver himself alone. God took thousands of years to teach the Jews and the world that they could not save themselves. When David defeated Goliath, he did not depend upon himself, but upon the living God (1 Samuel 17:32). We can overcome the giants of temptation with the Lord's help (Philippians 4:13). Thus, Jesus is our Saviour from the bondage of sin.

JESUS IS OUR HOPE FOR ETERNITY. This should give great comfort to those who believe in Him. Jesus told His sorrowing disciples: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:1-3). Some day He will come in the clouds of Heaven and gather His faithful home with Him to be in Heaven forevermore (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Peter 1:4). Paul said that "if our earthly tabernacle is dissolved, we have a building from God, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1).

Christ is the Way, and any who go to the Father must go through Him (John 14:6). In order to know how to be a real Christian, look at Him. Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." This means to have the same spirit or disposition of heart that characterized the Christ, Who never sought to please Himself, but always sought to do the will of the Father (Romans 15:3; John 4:34; John 6:38).

Some object, saying: "But one preacher differs from another in what the way is, so how can I know the way?" The Bible does not say to follow the preacher, unless he follows Christ as Paul did (1 Corinthians 11:1). Christ went through the world and made the way and sent the apostles to reveal all things and record them (John 16:13-15; 1 Corinthians 2:9-13; 2 Timothy 2:2). One is a Christian only to the extent he follows the instructions of the Christ recorded in the New Testament. Besides the accounts of the life of Christ, there are fourteen books that teach us how to follow Him. Someone correctly said: "Christianity is the life of Jesus Christ, so that our thoughts, feelings, purposes, words, and deeds are like His." Christ is the light of life, and those that follow Him shall not walk in darkness (John 8:12).

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org   
     

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 10:41 AM EDT

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Jon Voight's Noah, a farce and disgrace.

By Peter Ripley

Though the movie has long been forgotten and passed into the realm of fiction which it should be viewed as not as a  bibical historical account. I collect movies has one of my hobbies, Bibical, Historical, Sci-fi, action adventure and some fantasy.

I always believe if you are going to do either a bibical or historical film do it accurately, and with reverance, the 1999 film "Noah's Ark" starring Jon Voight, Mary Steenburgen, F.Murray Abraham, and James Coburn was grossly irreverant, inaccurate, and worse yet blasphemous! Imagine if these guys made a story out of the Koran, and treated that story like they did with the story of Noah and the flood, the results would not be good for the producers, directors and actors. But,  its okay to insult Jedochristain beliefs right?

Now like I said I like collecting bibical stories and wanting to complete my collection wanted a story of Noah and the flood and since there isnt any good stories out there at the moment I had to close my eyes and hold my nose, and buy that DvD, now if I come accross a good movie depicting Noah and the flood TRUTHFULLY I'll place the Vioght film squarely in the shredder where it belongs. 

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 2:14 PM EDT

Updated: Thursday, 23 April 2009 3:13 PM EDT

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The following is from the Word of Truth for the World webpage:

BUDDHISM

There are two ways to approach the subject of Buddhism. One approach is to look at Buddhism as it has existed in Asia. It is a very important part of the culture there. It is “engrained” in the habits and lifestyle of millions of Asian people. The other way is to study it as practiced by people in the Western world. Many who practice Buddhism in the west have first rejected the Bible and so-called “Christianity.” When they do not see what they like in this area, they turn to eastern religions. Unfortunately, most of these have never been exposed to true New Testament Christianity. Therefore do not make a true comparison between what the Bible teaches and what Buddhism teaches. We will do that in this lesson. Because many have already rejected false “Christianity,” they have difficulty accepting the truth (Genesis 37:31-34; 45:26-28).

A Taiwanese woman, who believed all religions are from God, illustrates this view. Even though all of the different religions teach many contradictory doctrines, she believed that since they all came from God, we should just pick and choose the best of each one and leave the rest alone. She also believed that since all religions came from God, we should not criticize various religious groups. There are many people in this world who share her views (I have several samples of letters in my files illustrating this point). We also know God did not institute contradictory religions because "God is not the author of confusion" (1 Corinthians 14:33). There are so many religions or philosophies that claim to be the guide for people in this life. Buddhism makes this claim. There are millions of Buddhists living in the world today and the number continues to grow, especially in the United States.

Because there are many similarities between Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism (pronounced dao-ism), and because various parts of these “paths” are practiced by many Asian people, we will also give a brief overview of these views as well. “Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism constitute the essence of the traditional Chinese culture. The relationship among the three has been marked by both contention and complementation in history, with Confucianism playing a more dominant role.” Buddhism is one of many Eastern religions that fits into Paul's description of those who "changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man.... Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator" (Romans 1:23,25).

Origin and History

Buddhism

 Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (563?- 483?), also known as Shakyamuni. Gautama was born in what is now Nepal. He was born into a noble family and was raised in wealthy circumstances. He married at the age of sixteen and had a son at the age of twenty-nine. “Legend has been prolifically at work on the scanty facts concerning the childhood of Siddhartha Gautama. Tradition insists that the father hoped his son would become ‘a universal monarch,’ the emperor of all India. But if this was in actual fact his expectation, it was doomed to disappointment.”

It was after the birth of his son that Siddhartha Gautama began his search for enlightenment. After trying the ascetic way of life, he turned to meditation. It is claimed that through meditation he realized enlightenment and began to teach his beliefs. “Deep in meditation, he reached the highest degree of God-consciousness, known as nirvana. He supposedly stayed under the fig tree for seven days, after that the fig tree was called the bodhi, or the bo tree (the tree of wisdom). The truths he learned he would now impart to the world, no longer as Siddhartha Gautama, but as the Buddha, the enlightened one.”

For the next forty-five years, Gautama worked in the preaching and teaching of those things he had learned. Buddhism was born in India, the home of Hinduism. Since Gautama came out of the Hindu background, there are a number of similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism, e.g., teachings regarding reincarnation and karma. It is said Gautama died at the age of 80 after eating spoiled food.

The greatest early growth of Buddhism was in India. It spread into the other Asian nations, such as Thailand, China, and Japan. Several forms of Buddhism have been developed through the years. We will discuss that when we talk about “Authority and Doctrine” later in this chapter.

Taoism

The claimed founder of Taoism (pronounced Daoism) is Lao-tzu. The word tao means “path.” Concerning him, McDowell and Stewart said: Many scholars feel that Lao-tzu never existed at all. His date of birth is uncertain, being put variously between 604 and 570 B.C. One legend said that he was never young but rather was born old with white hair, a long white beard and wrinkled skin…. However, he was known to the people as Lao-tzu, meaning "the old philosopher.”

Chuang-tzu, a disciple of Lao-tzu, popularized Taoism by his many teachings on the subject of the “path.” Taoism provides us with “yin” and “yang,” which literally means “feminine” and “masculine.” It carries many additional meanings in Taoism. Taoism still has a large following in Taiwan and has a growing following in the United States. Those who practice Taoism in Taiwan also mix it with Buddhism and Confucianism.

Confucianism 

The name Confucius is the romanized version of his Chinese name, Kung Fu Tzu. He was born about 550 B.C. in China. He lived at about the same time as Buddha. He was an official in local government, holding minor posts until about the age of fifty. It was at that time he became a high official, but because of a disagreement with his superiors, resigned, and spent the next thirteen years traveling and spreading his teachings. After spending the last five years of his life writing, he died in Shantung Province in 479 B.C.

Rod Rutherford gives a concise account of the origin and history of Confucianism in his book on world religions. He says in the introduction: Confucianism has been described as a “religion of optimistic humanism.” Confucianism is not a religion in the sense of man worshiping a god or gods, but is mainly an ethical system dealing with getting along with one’s fellow man.

It was Confucius’ purpose to try to bring reform to the society at that time because of the corruption among government leaders. “Confucius believed that the solution to this chaos was to return to the kinder, gentler ways of their ancestors. He was basically a humanist, believing that man was essentially good, and just needed to be called back to his better instincts. He sought to reform society by reforming government and education according to his principles of behavior.

One of his students, born about two hundred years later, was Mencius. Like his teacher, he spent much of his time in traveling spreading the message of reform. He was mostly responsible for the teachings of Confucius becoming well known and popular throughout China. It may be the case that Confucius had no intention of establishing a new religion, but through the centuries, steps were taken to “deify” Confucius. Today, there are Confucius temples throughout China. In Taiwan, sunrise services are conducted each year on September 28 th to remember him.

Authority and Doctrine

Buddhism 

Buddhism is divided into three main branches. The oldest branch is Theravada, the “Way of the Elders.” Theravada is predominately found in southern Asia ( Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, and Cambodia). By far the largest branch of Buddhism is Mahayana or “Great Vehicle.” It is predominant in northern Asia ( China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam). “ Zen Buddhism is a form of Mahayana Buddhism that has become very popular in Western nations in recent years. Zen developed about a thousand years after the death of Buddha. Adherents of Zen say their beliefs do not need to be explained, but are directly transmitted from one mind to another…. A statement of Buddha frequently repeated by advocates of Zen is: ‘Look within; you are the Buddha.’” The third branch of Buddhism is the Vajrayana or “Diamond” tradition. It is dominant in Tibet. The Dalai Lama is the leading figure of this branch.

Though there are different branches of Buddhism, there are some basic teachings accepted by all. These include: The Three Marks of Existence, The Four Noble Truths, The Five Skandhas, The Six Realms, The Eightfold Path, and the Ten Perfections.

“Theravada Buddhism has three groups of scriptures. Together, they are referred to as ‘Tripitaka’ which means ‘Three Baskets.’ The Tripitaka is about eleven times the size of the Bible. It includes the sayings of Buddha, lectures on discipline, and philosophy. Mahayana Buddhism has no fixed canon of scripture. They have more than 5,000 volumes and the number continues to grow. Some sects choose one portion to follow; some another.” Some of the main doctrines of Buddhism are karma, reincarnation, and nirvana.

The Meaning of Karma 

Buddhism teaches that happiness or suffering in this life is the result of our deeds (karma) in past lives, or past actions in our present lives. Karma is “intentional action, that is, a deed done deliberately through body, speech, or mind.” The effects of karma may be evident either in short term or in the long term. Karma can either manifest its effects in this very life or in the next life or only after several lives.

“A man does wrong and suffers for it. But he may suffer when he has done no apparent wrong. Hence his wrong was done in a former life, and if he does wrong and apparently receives no retribution, he will be punished for his sin in another birth.” The Buddha said,

“According to the seed that is sown,
So is the fruit you reap.
The door of good will gather good result. [sic]
The door of evil reaps evil result. [sic]
If you plant a good seed well,
Then you will enjoy the good fruits.”

According to the idea of karma in Buddhism, an individual has free-will, but he carries the baggage of deeds done in previous lives.

Reincarnation or Rebirth 

The idea of reincarnation permeates our society. In the early 1980's, almost one in four Americans believed in reincarnation. There have been a number of books written, television shows and movies produced that promote this teaching. Many famous people in history believed they were someone else in another life. In some forms of Buddhism, all creatures (including animals) have a soul, so it would be cannibalism to kill and eat animals. Many who believe in reincarnation are vegetarians. Buddhists are not the only animists in the world. Animism is the belief that all sorts of motionless objects…have souls or spirits in them.

 Nirvana 

In Sanskrit, nirvana literally means, "extinction, blowing out." Nirvana is the ultimate goal of spiritual practice in Buddhism. It is the liberation from the cycle of rebirth and suffering. Nirvana is the total, absolute and permanent cessation of suffering. Buddha says, "one without attachment realizes nirvana." Buddha also says, the "end of craving is nirvana." The Buddha described nirvana as supreme happiness, peace and immortality. It is the merging of the individual into being one with the universe. Nirvana means "never having to be reborn."

View of God 

As in Hinduism, there are many Buddhists who believe there are many gods, or no gods. “Zen holds that there is no god outside the universe who has created it and created man…. Each of us is but a cell as it were, in the body of the great Self, a cell that comes into being, performs it functions, and passes away, transformed into another manifestation.” “In Chinese style polytheism, the pantheon of gods is open.... In China...religions are viewed as inclusive, and a person may commonly be a combination of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucianist, with some other elements thrown in as well. Chinese tend to look for a ‘god’ that can solve a specific problem at an immediate time, and to fill a particular need. They visit a variety of temples and shrines to give offerings. When the westerner inquires as to which idols or images in the temple are representative of which religion(s), it is most likely none of the Chinese in attendance knows."

Buddhism is a religion that “offers the chance to be an atheist without having to dispense with religion.” So in Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, you can be a polytheist or an atheist. It does not affect their final outcome or goals. The Psalmist said, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1).

Taoism 

The Tao Te Ching is the main source of the authority of Taoism. It accepts unquestionably the theory that when things are allowed to take their natural course, they move with a wonderful perfection and harmony. Yin-Yang represent elements in the universe that are contrary to each other, such as life and death, light and darkness, good and evil. The Yang represents the positive elements, the Yin the negative elements. It also teaches one can get his life in harmony with the Tao and live as he is meant to live. This is called “the concept of inaction.”

 The practice of ancestor worship comes from Taoism as well. Confucianism also advocates this practice. It is believed that if the family provides for the needs of their departed loved ones, the departed will continue to bring good luck to the living. However, if the ancestors are neglected, bad luck will come to the family. In the Chinese culture, it falls to the oldest male in the family to lead in the worship of the ancestors.

Confucianism 

The doctrines and authority of this view is based upon a number of the writings of Confucius, Mencius, and their followers. These books include: The Five Classics, The Analects, The Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean, and The Book of Mencius.

One of the main things Confucius stressed in his writings was the teaching on filial piety. “Confucius taught that an orderly society was based on the stability of the home, but the home was based on respect of children for their parents. He was credited with saying, ‘The services of love and reverence to parents when alive, and those of sorrow and grief when dead, these completely discharge the fundamental duty of living men.’ Throughout Chinese history, loyalty to the family has been the highest consideration.” That is why in many countries where Chinese people live, there is a very low crime rate among the Chinese people. It comes from the respect for the family.

Confucius’ statement, “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do unto others” has been used to show Jesus’ statement was not original. Unlike Jesus, however, Confucius applied this only to friends, not enemies. Also, Confucius looked at it from the negative standpoint, while Jesus stated it positively. "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12).

Eastern Religion Versus The Bible 

It is granted there is some good in all religions. Who would be interested in following a religion that did not have anything good about it? However, as we pointed out at the beginning of this lesson, God did not want many different conflicting religions existing in the world. How can we know which one is the one He authorizes?

Just as with many Eastern religions, Buddhism is very idolatrous in nature. The Bible is filled with passages that show the folly and sinfulness of idolatry that has existed in Eastern religions through the years (Psalm 115:4-8; Psalm 135:15-17; Isaiah 40:18-20; Acts 19:24-28; 1 Corinthians 12:2). How can religions that promote idolatry be a religion from God? It is not possible.

Karma Versus The Bible

According to the idea of karma in Buddhism, an individual has free will, but he carries the baggage of deeds done in previous lives. What does the Bible teach? The Bible teaches each individual is responsible for his own life (Ezekiel 18:4,20; Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). We do not inherit the sins of our ancestors, nor do we inherit sins from previous lives.

Reincarnation Versus The Bible

Some who believe in reincarnation try to use the Bible to uphold their doctrine. In the Old Testament, they refer to the examples of Job (Job 1:20,21) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4,5) to try to uphold their doctrine. They also use Psalm 139:13-16 to try to support their teaching. In the New Testament, they try to use passages that speak of Paul (Gal. 1:15,16) and Elijah (Matthew 11:14; 17:10-13; Luke 1:17). None of these passages remotely suggest this teaching.

The Bible does not uphold this doctrine. In fact, the Bible refutes reincarnation. Take, for example, the case of Elijah. Reincarnation teaches that when a person dies, he is born as someone else in another life. But Elijah did not die (2 Kings 2:11; Hebrews 11:5). Also, Elijah appears as himself with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-5). John came "in the spirit and power of Elijah" (Luke 1:17). Reincarnation teaches we die over and over again. However, the Bible tells us "it is appointed unto men once to die" (Hebrews 9:27). This same verse tells us that after we die, we wait for the judgment.

Nirvana Versus The Bible

Earlier in this lesson we gave the definition and meaning of nirvana. It was to cease from an existence of pain and suffering. The goal of the Christian is also to go to a place where there will be no suffering or pain (Revelation 21:4; 1 Peter 1:3-9). However, a heavenly reward does not mean we cease to exist (John 5:28,29; Matthew 25:31-46). These passages also point out the unrighteous are not reborn, but will be doomed to hell.

Defeating Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism 

The Buddhists do not like this phrase, “defeating Buddhism.” It makes it sound like we are at war. We are at “spiritual war” with Satan (Ephesians 6:10-17; 2 Timothy 2:3,4; 1 John 3:8). If these religions did not come from God, they came from Satan. We are not interested in “killing” those in these religions, but instead trying to free them from the captivity of the devil (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16).

The key to succeeding in this effort is to first establish the truth of the Bible. If the Bible is true, then anything that contradicts the Bible must be false. We can prove the truth of the Bible.

What is so special about the Bible that makes us realize it is the greatest book ever written? The Bible claims to be from God (2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 3:16,17). Jesus said, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32). He then says, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17). The Word of God is our source of truth (2 Tim. 3:16,17). We have proof Jesus is who He said He Is.

Many people do not believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. If He is not the Christ, then our faith is of no value. If He is the Son of God, we must obey Him to go to Heaven (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus is a real person. He lived on this earth about 2,000 years ago. Not everybody believes He is the Son of God. Some say, “He was a good man, and a great Teacher, but He was not the Son of God.” This is impossible. Either He is the Son of God, or He was the biggest liar in the world. He said He was the Son of God. Why do we believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? To believe something we must have good reasons. We must be able to prove why we believe Jesus is the Christ (1 Peter 3:15). People must believe that Jesus is the Christ to be saved (John 8:24; John 14:6). We can give many reasons for believing Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 1:1-18; 5:17,18; 8:58; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; 1 Peter 2:21,22; Hebrews 4:14-16; John 3:1,2; 20:30,31; Matthew 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:16-18; 1 John 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 1:4).

There are no contradictions in the Bible. The Bible was written by about forty different writers over a period of about 1600 years. The writers of the Bible were men who lived in different periods of time, had different occupations, and lived in different places. In many cases, the writers did not know each other. In spite of this, there are no contradictions in the Bible. This could not have happened by accident. Buddhism does not even try to claim there are no contradictions in their sacred writings.

We can also consider the scientific facts found in the Bible. The Bible is not a science book, but it has scientific facts in it. Columbus and Magellan proved the earth is round. That was just about five hundred years ago. The Bible told us the earth was round thousands of years before anybody ever heard of Columbus or Magellan (Isaiah 40:22; Proverbs 8:27).

The Bible also tells us we are not able to number the stars. In 1940, astronomers finally came to this conclusion. Almost 2,500 years ago, Jeremiah recorded: "As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me" (Jeremiah 33:22). Almighty God cannot only count the stars, He can call them by name (Psalm 147:4).

There are more than one thousand prophecies in the Bible. The fact that every prophecy is fulfilled is further proof that the Bible is true. More than three hundred of these prophecies are concerning the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled every one.

The Bible teaches there is only one right way (John 14:6). We will be judged by the words of Christ (John 12:48). There are only two choices in life - the narrow way or the broad way (Matthew 7:13,14). If we want to go to Heaven, we have to obey the will of God (Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 6:17,18; Hebrews 5:8,9). The Bible is the proven guide for the lives of all people.

The Bible teaches there is only one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; 1 Corinthians 8:6). The Bible also emphasizes the existence of God (Genesis 1:1; Daniel 2:28; Acts 17:23-29). Buddhism teaches there is either no God or many gods. You can chose. The Bible is right! Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism contradict the Bible. Therefore, they cannot be right!

The Bible teaches it is our guide in life and it reveals all truth (Psalm 119:105; John 14:26; John 16:13; 2 Peter 1:3). Buddhism teaches the writings of Gautama and one's own feelings are the guide in this life (Proverbs 14:12; Jeremiah 10:23).

The Bible proclaims Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God (Romans 1:4; John 20:30,31). The Bible teaches that Jesus rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Buddhism denies Jesus rose from the dead and denies Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Since Buddhism contradicts these plain passages, Buddhism cannot be true!

The Bible reveals God's eternal plan to save mankind through the church (Ephesians 3:8-11; Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:22,23; Ephesians 5:23). Buddhism denies this is the path of salvation. According to Buddhism, a person is to follow the Eightfold Path that will lead to Nirvana. Since this contradicts the Bible, it cannot be right!

The Bible teaches that our souls are eternal and we will be judged according to our works, by the Word of God (Matthew 10:28; 1 Corinthians 15:45; Romans 2:16; 2 Corinthians 5:10). The difference between humans and animals is that humans have an eternal soul, but animals do not. Yet Buddhism teaches all life, human and animal, is of the same value. Buddhism also teaches reincarnation, which is a continual rebirth. These views are in conflict with the Bible. The Bible is true. Therefore these doctrines of Buddhism are false.

Conclusion

Buddhism stresses self-dependence and self-salvation. It cannot be true because it is a religion from man (Matthew 15:8,9,13-15). Christianity is far superior to any other religion in the world. It offers forgiveness of sins through our obedience to Christ (Hebrews 5:8,9). The only hope this world has is through Christ (Ephesians 2:12; John 14:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:9). Those who established these Eastern religions have died and are still dead. Jesus died and rose from the dead never to die again (Romans 1:4).

May God help each of us to use every opportunity to preach the Gospel of Christ to those who practice and follow Buddhism, and give those who have good and honest hearts the opportunity to believe and obey the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Romans 1:16).

ENDNOTES

All Quotations are taken from the King James Version. Jacob had a genuine reaction to false information. When he learned the truth, at first, he refused to believe it.

http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa030400a.html

David S. Noss and John B. Noss, Man’s Religions (New York, NY; Macmillan Publishing Company, 1984), p. 106.

Josh McDowell and Don Stewart, Understanding Non-Christian Religions (San Bernardino, California: Here’s Life Publishers, Inc., 1982), p. 49.

Ibid., p. 97.

Ibid., pp. 77,78.

Rod Rutherford, Survey of World Religions ( Memphis, Tennessee: Rutherford Publications, n.d.), p. 38. Brother Rutherford’s book has twenty lessons dealing with all of the major religions in the world. It would be an excellent study book for Bible classes.

Ibid., p. 41.

Rutherford, p. 32.

http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/dharma/introduction/overview.html and http://www.easternreligions.com/buddhacom.html.

Rutherford, p. 32.

Edward J. Thomas, The Life of Buddha (London: Broadway House, 1949), p. 174.

http://home.earthlink.net/~srama/

Norman L. Geisler and J. Yutaka Amano, The Reincarnation Sensation (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1986), p. 7.

Noss and Noss, p. 15.

Ibid., p. 122.

Ruth Fuller Sasaki, “Zen: a Method for Religious Awakening,” The World of Zen: an East-West Anthology, edited by Nancy Wilson Ross (New York: Random House, 1960), p. 18.

Richard W. Hartzell, Harmony in Conflict (Taipei: Cave Books, 1988), p. 565.

Wulf Metz, “The Appeal of Buddhism in the West,” in the World’s Religions (Herts, England: Lion Publishing, 1982), p. 242.

Noss and Noss, p. 247.

McDowell and Stewart, p. 109.

Ibid., p. 109.

Rutherford, p. 41.

Ibid., p. 41.

Geisler and Amano, p. 170.

Additional Websites for further study on Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism: http://www.omsakthi.org/religions.html; http://www.friesian.com/confuci.htm; http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/taoism/; http://www.askasia.org/frclasrm/readings/r000005.htm; http://www-ee.eng.hawaii.edu/~chiao/ghost.htm; http://www.ciolek.com/WWWVL-Buddhism.html.

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org   
     

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 12:23 PM EDT

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The following article is taken from one of the newsletters I read which I think could be useful to those who are belittled by others who have to make themselves feel important by looking down thier noses at others. Only this is in the context of business dealings, from a guy who generally writes about meeting and dating women, John Alinis wrote the following:

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 10:56 AM EDT

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BROTHERLY KINDNESS

From the  Truth for the World webpage

In the Old Testament, the first two brothers that we find are Cain and Abel. Genesis 4:2 reveals that "Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground." In other words, Abel was a shepherd, and Cain was a farmer. Both men offered sacrifices to God. Cain offered some fruit of the ground, and Abel offered the firstling of his flock. Abel's sacrifice was acceptable and pleased God, but Cain's was unacceptable.

Now, some have said that the reason that one was accepted and the other was not is because it was an animal sacrifice. Others have proposed that it was acceptable because Abel offered the best of what he had and Cain did not. But this is not the point we wish to put forth in our lesson today. We want to notice that Cain became very angry and jealous of his brother. In fact, his anger became so kindled that he killed Abel. The Lord came to Cain (Genesis 4:9) and asked him, "Where is Abel your brother?" Cain replied, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" Of course, God knew that Cain had actually taken his brother's life, and so a punishment was placed upon him. He was made a fugitive and a vagabond. A mark was placed upon Cain so that others would not kill him. That's the story of the first two brothers of the Old Testament. You may read that account in Genesis 4.

The first two brothers of the New Testament are Peter and Andrew. One day, Andrew found Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He then went to find his brother Peter and told him, "We have found the Messiah." After this Andrew brought Peter to the Lord, and you can read that story in John the first chapter.

What a vast difference we see between these two sets of brothers! In the Old Testament, one brother killed the other. In the New Testament, one brother led the other to the Lord. Our lesson today concerns 'Brotherly Kindness.'

What exactly did Cain accomplish with his action toward Abel? Cain accomplished only that which was of a negative nature. In the first place, he became very angry. It is possible to become angry and still not sin; Ephesians 4:26 says, "Be angry, and do not sin..." (Eph 4:26) It is never right to be angry when an injury is done to oneself. It is often right to be angry when an injustice is brought upon others. In Mark I 1, Jesus entered the temple and observed that those who sold sacrifices and served as moneychangers were there. He realized that they were taking advantage of the people. So, He overthrew their tables and drove them from the temple. His statement was, "Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but you have made it a den of thieves" (Matthew 21:13). Jesus became angry, but he did not sin. Selfish anger is always sin, but selfless anger can be positive and morally right.

This was one of Cain's problems. He was angry for the wrong reason. We need to be extremely careful about our anger. When we are angry, this is the time when it is the easiest to sin. We often say things when angry that we should not and would not normally say.

In Numbers 20, there is a sad story in the life of Moses, the great Law-giver of Israel. The Israelites were in the wilderness and were thirsty. The Lord told Moses to speak to the rock before them and water would come forth. Moses was very angry with the people, and as he stood by the rock, he said something he regretted for the rest of his life. He said in Numbers 20:10, "Here now, you rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rock?" He then struck the rock, instead of speaking to it, and water came forth. But God was displeased with Moses. In his anger, Moses took the credit for bringing forth the water. Now, normally Moses would not have done this, but his anger caused him to sin. It was for this very incident that Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land.

How many times have people been hurt by angry words? How many friendships have been broken over angry words? How many homes have been divided because one or more decided to use an angry word?

There is a religious song entitled Angry Words: "Angry words, oh, let them never from the tongue unbridled slip. May the heart's best impulse ever check them, e'er they soil the lip. Love is much too pure and holy, friendship is too sacred far, For a moment's reckless folly thus to desolate and mar. Angry words are lightly spoken, bitterest thoughts are rashly stirred, Brightest links of life are broken by a single angry word." Those words are so true. We need to come to the full realization that controlling our temper is an essential ingredient for brotherly kindness.

But we find, next, that Cain was guilty of envy. His brother's sacrifice was more acceptable, and so Cain envied Abel. Sometimes when certain people see others working for the Lord, they become envious. Instead of lending a helping hand, they criticize. Webster defines envy as "a painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another, joined with a desire to possess that same advantage." And this seems to have been the feeling that Cain possessed toward Abel. Instead of accepting the fact that he had committed something wrong, he decided to carry his sin a step further. This brings us to the climax of Cain's sin -- murder, the alternative of brotherly kindness. What a shame this man could not find room in his heart for love instead of hate.

The Bible tells us to be kind. Second Peter 1:7 tells us to add brotherly kindness to godliness. Ephesians 4:32 says, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you." In Colossians 3:12, Paul writes: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering." Suppose an individual becomes sick and discouraged. Kindness can help bring health and encouragement. Kindness can be seen in our words, but it can be felt in our actions too. A dear little old lady became ill, and when a couple of visiting ladies rose up to leave, they said, "We will be praying for you." "Just wash up those dishes in the kitchen," the sick one smilingly replied. "I can do my own praying." You know, kindness must include some action. Right now, there may be someone sitting in his living room who would be overjoyed at receiving a letter, telephone -call, or, better yet, a visit from you. Why not resolve right now to do that little act of kindness. Little acts of kindness are really great big acts of goodness in disguise, and how much they will accomplish! Who knows, who can really tell?

It should be quite obvious that Cain achieved absolutely nothing. But what did Andrew, one of the two brothers of the New Testament that we mentioned earlier, accomplish? He led his brother Peter to Christ. After this, we really don't hear too much about Andrew, but we hear a lot about Peter. Peter became a great apostle, a great preacher, a great Christian. He preached the first gospel sermon to the Jews on Pentecost. You can road about it in Acts the second chapter. He was also the first to preach to the Gentiles, and you can read about that in Acts 10. Peter wrote two books of the New Testament. One little act of kindness ultimately led to the salvation of literally thousands of people.

I believe that we can easily see the difference between the two sets of brothers. Now, the question is, Would you rather be like Cain, or would you rather be like Andrew? The answer to that is simple and quite obvious. We would rather be like Andrew. Why? Because his act was far more worthy than that of Cain.

Let me ask you another question -- would you rather deal with an individual like Cain or Andrew? Again, the answer is easily given. We enjoy being around those whose lives have been characterized by kindness. But it does not always happen in that way. Being kind to others means that I am going to have to forget myself. It means that I will not wait for the needs of others to be pointed out, but that I will look for ways in which I can benefit mankind. If someone is hungry, I will feed him; if someone is thirsty, I will give him something to drink; if someone is naked, I will give him something to wear.

Kindness includes all of these, but brotherly kindness or Christian kindness goes much deeper. It does not merely deal with the physical but with the spiritual as well. I believe that every individual should read carefully the word of God, the Bible. He should read it so that he can learn what the Lord requires of him in order for him to go to heaven. After he has read this and obeyed it, this person is then in a position to supply the greatest kindness shown and known to man. This kindness is bringing others to Christ. Can you think of a greater thing you can do for others than that?

Are you a child of God? Let me urge you to study the Bible with an open mind and an open heart. Our plea is for you to obey God, not a man-originated doctrine. After becoming a Christian, you can then begin to demonstrate a kindness such as Andrew showed Peter many years ago. Who knows what your acts of kindness will accomplish. Maybe you'll never know, in this life anyway. Eternity alone will tell the story of genuine brotherly kindness.

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org   
     

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 11:32 AM EDT

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