ONE HEARTBEAT AWAY
PART 50
(Mark Cahill's Book)
Girl says "HELL" in school suspended.
Dan Nephin, Associated Press writer
Pittsburgh, AP.... Brandy Mc Kenith, 7,
was suspended for swearing .... saying
the word "hell, " But her family says she was referring to the Biblical location of fire and brimstone.
She served the suspension Tuesday.
The Pittsburgh Public School's student code Of Conduct prohibits profanity. But doesn't provide a definition, spokeswoman Pat Crawford said.
The school would not comment further.
...."The school's policy says 'no profanity' and that is not further defined," Walczak said, "how should this little girl know that "hell" is not allowed?
It is questionable whether "hell" is even a profanity, and it certainly isn't in the way that she used it.
McKenith, a suburban Pittsburgh detective, said family members aren't "religious fanatics, " but there is a healthy respect for the Lord, so he accepts his daughter's explanation.
"She is under the impression that good people go to heaven and .... bad people go to hell. " he said Wednesday.
Why would that second grader think that good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell? And why do all of us think the same way?
On the day that
Terri Schindler
Schiavo died, I was
listening to Bill
O'Reilly's radio
show. He said, "I
hope she is in
paradise?
What is wrong in
believing in that? Don't you hope
that bad people are punished and
that good people are rewarded?"
I don't how so many people get the
idea that good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell, but it seems ingrained in all of us.
As my search continued, I began to realize that no matter what the world was telling me about being "good enough," to get to heaven, God had a different standard. And I realized that I needed to know what that standard is, so that I could make correct decisions
about eternity.
Our eternal destinations will be determined by that standard.
next post 2nd November
ONE HEARTBEAT AWAY
PART 49
(Mark Cahill's Book)
CHAPTER 5
It's the Law!
I wanted a perfect ending. Now I know the hard
way that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories
don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking
the moment, and making the best of it, without knowing
what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity.
GILDA RADNER
Gilda Radner, the famous comedienne,
didn't know what was going to happen next -but you do. You know that there are only two destinations when you leave this world, and you head for the one or the other, just after your last heartbeat.
That leave us with another question - one that most people are keenly aware of.
On a flight to Cincinnati one day, I was sitting next to a man who worked for Proctor and Gamble. I asked him what he thought was out there after he died.
He said, "I believe there is a heaven or hell after we die. What I can't figure out is, what is the criterion for who gets to which place?"
And, of course, that is the question: what is the separating factor that will put us in one or the other place for all of eternity?
For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:5)
The first point that
amazed me is that
we can't take credit
for enough good
works, hoping to
gain entrance into
heaven. This totally
goes against almost
all of our thinking.
Bosses, coaches, teachers and others,
judge us on the work that we do or don't do. Won't God do the same?
I remember sitting in church one time
as a teenager, and a major moment of my life happened to me: I began to think about how God would judge me. I pictured that God had a very big score card in heaven and that I got a check mark everytime that I was nice to my brothers and sister, a check mark for everytime I threw a quarter into the collection plate, a check mark each time I turned in my homework, a check mark for going to church, etc.,
But I was left with one very big question:
How many check marks did I need to get into heaven ? Was it 500 or 501? What was the answer? What gets us into heaven?
And what gets us into hell? People get
very upset even thinking about that!
next post tomorrow 31st October
TWENTY SEVENTEEN
PART 30
Hello folks,
Ruth has now hunted high and low for hours on end with no success. It is after 9pm and the R600 is still missing.
I commit it to the Lord, my God, He knows where it is and if it is His will for us to find it, we will. Ruth must take Sally back to the vet tomorrow and we need that money. We wait upon the Lord.
Wednesday 19th - Ruth instructs Charmaine to look for the missing
R600. Ruth takes Sally to Vet. Still no luck in finding the money. Learn
to be content.
Thursday 20th - blood test day and "service" for hearing aid. We take
Benjy and Harry with us - when Ruth returns from the ATM she is rejoicing - The R600 was still in the bank.
She had used the R600 that we had at home home but because of an error at the ATM she grew confused and
thought she had drawn another R600 there.
As usual I am very tired after the trip to town - it is also very cold again. My INR reading is 2.31
Charmaine's husband sends WhattsApp
message she is ill and will not be coming to work tomorrow.
Saturday 22nd - Charmaine sends message she is better now and is coming to work tomorrow (Sunday 23rd).
Sunday 23rd July - Charmaine works half day - In the evening I cut my
index finger badly wih scissors while cutting up dog's food' small cut
but rather deep. Won't stop bleeding probably because of Warfarin treatment. It took three hours to bring it under control.
next post 5th November
PRAISING GOD
PART 7
The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Slow to anger and great in
loving kindness.
The Lord is good to all.
And His mercies are over all
His works.
All Thy works shall give thanks
to Thee.
And Thy godly ones shall bless
Thee.
They shall speak of the glory of
Thy kingdom.
And talk of Thy power.
To make known to the sons of
men
Thy mighty acts.
And the glory of the majesty
of Thy kingdom.
Thy kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom.
And Thy dominion endures over
all generations
The Lord is righteous in all
His ways.
Thy testimonies are
wonderful
therefore my soul
observes them
The unfolding of Thy words gives light
It gives understanding
to the simple,
I opened my mouth wide
and panted, for I longed for Thy
commandments
Turn to me and be gracious to me
after the manner of those
who love Thy name.
Establish my footsteps in Thy
Word
and do not let any iniquity have
dominion over me.
Redeem me from the oppression
of man
That I might keep Thy precepts
Make Thy face shine upon Thy
servant.
And teach me Thy statutes.
My eyes shed streams of water
Because they do not keep Thy law.
Oh love the Lord, all you, His godly
ones!
The Lord preserves the faithful
and fully recompenses the proud
doer
Be strong and let your heart take
courage
All you who hope in the Lord.
next post 25th November
MY FAVORITE PSALMS -
PART 84
Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is
settled in heaven.
Thy faithfulness continues through
all generations
Thou didst establish the earth
and it stands.
They stand this day
according to Thy ordinances
For all things are Thy servants
If the law had not been my delight
Then I would have perished in
my affliction
I will never forget Thy precepts
for by them Thou hast revived me.
I am Thine, save me;
for I have sought Thy precepts
The wicked wait for me to destroy
me
I shall diligently consider Thy
testimonies
I have seen a limit to all perfection
Thy commandment is exceedingly
broad.
Oh, how I love Thy law!
It is my meditation all
the day
Thy commandments make
me wiser than my enemies
For they are forever mine
I have more insight than
all my teachers
For Thy testimonies are
my meditation
I understand more than the aged
Because I have observed Thy precepts
I have restrained my feet from
every evil way
That I may keep Thy Word
I have not turned aside from Thy
ordinances
For Thou, Thyself hast taught me
How sweet are Thy words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
From Thy precepts I get understanding
Therefore I hate every false way.
next post 3rd November
ONE HEARTBEAT AWAY
PART 48
(Mark Cahill's Book)
There is a hell, and one of the clearest pictures of it in the Bible, is the well-known story of the rich man and Lazarus:
There was a certain rich man, which was
clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptously every day.
And there was a certain beggar named
Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores.
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham'sbosom: and the rich man also died and was buried.
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in
torments, and seeing Abraham afar off,
and Lazarus in his bosom, and he cried out and said "father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he might dip the tip of his finger in water ; and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame."
But Abraham said, " Son, remember that in thine lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted and thou art tormented.
And beside all this, there is a great gulph fixed between us, so that they which would pass from hence to you, cannot; neither can they pass to us that would come from thence."
Then he said, "I pray thee therefore father that thou wouldst send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment."
Abraham saith unto him ; " They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them." And he said "Nay, father Abraham, but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent."
And he said unto him " if they hear not
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
(Luke 16:19-31).
Notice that when the rich man was in hell, all five of his senses worked just fine. He was in such torment that he begged for even one drop of water. One thing that hits me hard as I read this is that there is no crossing over. Judgement is set once you take your last breath.
The rich man could not have someone
bring him water, neither could Lazarus run over to help, even if he had wanted to.
After you die, you cannot change your
eternal destination. You have a one-way ticket to eternity. You must know before your last heartbeat which side of the chasm you will be forever... and ever and ever. The rich man wanted his brothers warned so that they wouldn't end up in hell with him for all of
eternity.
I hope you will consider this book your
warning. God doesn't want you to go to hell and neither do I.
If the people taking a recent Barna group
survey, were accurate in their opinion,
which I don't believe they were, hell would be a sparsely populated place.
Only one half of 1%
of Americans said they expected to go to hell, when they die, while nearly two thirds (64%)
think they are headed for heaven.
But what did Jesus say?
Enter ye at the straight gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat. (Matthew 7:13)
Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 24:44).
What is it that determines your final destination? What criteria will decide where you are going? That crucial question is the topic that we will discuss in our next chapter, as our search for eternal truth continues to narrow.
Next post 30th October
IS JESUS RELEVANT TODAY?
PART 7
(Copied from
Y-Jesus.com)
Navigtion
Perhaps Hitler is deserving of judgment,
they reason, but not them, or others, who live "decent lives." It's like saying that God grades on the curve and everybody who gets a D - or better will get in. But this presents a dilemma.
As we have seen, sin is the opposite of God's Holy character. Thus we have offended the One Who created us, and loved us enough to sacrifice His very Son for us. In a sense, our rebellion is like spitting in His face. Neither
good deeds, religion, meditation, or Karma can pay the debt our sins have incurred.
So, why is Jesus alone able to save us from our sins? Aren't there others qualified to save us? Although there have been many people and prophets who have lived good lives, the New Testament eye-witnesses of Jesus tell us that He was morally righteous in every way.
Theologian R. C. Sprout tells us that since Christ lived a sinless life, He alone qualified to be our Savior.
A Gift Undeserved
The Biblical term to
describe God's free
forgiveness through
Christ's sacrificial death
is grace. Whereas mercy saves us from what we deserve, the grace of God gives us what we don't deserve. Let's review for a minute how Christ has done for us what we could not do for ourselves:
* God loves us and created us for a
relationship with Himself.
* We have been given the freedom to
accept or reject that relationship
* Our sin and rebellion against God
and His laws have created a wall of
separation between us and Him.
* Though we are deserving of eternal
judgment, God has paid our debt in
full by Jesus' death in our place,
making eternal life with Him
possible.
Bono gives us his perspective on grace:
"Grace defies reason and logic. Love interupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case, is very good news indeed, because I have done a lot of stupid stuff... I'd be in big trouble if Karma was finally going to be my judge. It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out
for grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope that I don't have to depend on my own religiosity ."
We now have the picture of God's plan coming together. But there is still one missing ingredient.
According to Jesus and the authors of the New Testament, each of us individually must respond to the free
gift Jesus offers us. He won't force us
to take it.
next post 1st November
ONE HEARTBEAT AWAY
PART 47
(Mark Cahill's book)
"It's Not Safe To Die."
I spoke to a young man one day who
mentioned that he had been injured
and wound up on an emergency-room
operating table. He said his heart had
stopped beating, and as his soul rose up
out of his body, immediately the sense of
an evil presence began to come over him,
and he could hear an evil hissing laughter.
He told me he was glad to get back into his
body, and be alive! He now knows how
real evil is.
A respiratory nurse who works in an
emergency room, told me about a patient
who had gone "code red" - he flat-lined .
She and some other medical personnel
rushed over with the defibrillator to try to
bring him back to life. They applied the
paddles and revived him. She said that he
started screaming and shouting, "The heat!
The heat!" Then his heart stopped again.
They brought him back a second time.
He shouted "The flames, the flames."
They lost him again. Four times the man flat-
lined, and was brought back, shouting about
the heat or the flames.
After the last time he died and they couldn't
bring him back. She said all the doctors and nurses just stood there for a few minutes and stared at the body. They all knew that man
went to hell. He was screaming it to them before he even got out of here.
I have met several people (all in a non-drug,
non-alcoholic state) who experienced a
burning hell, rather than being with Jesus,
or the typical "tunnel and white light "
scenario. So, don't believe that sweetness-and -light near death stories are the only kind
people report.
Dr Maurice Rawlings, a cardiologist, has witnessed numerous patients during and after
their near-death experiences and reported his findings in Beyond Death's Door. After interviewing 300 patients immediately after resuscitation, Dr. Rawlings says that nearly half
of them reported seeing a lake of fire, devil-like figures and other sights reflecting the existence
of hell. "There is a life after death," Rawlings
said "and if I don't know where I'm going it is
not safe to die."
He also discovered that
when patients who had
described their experiences
in hell vividly were asked
about those experiences a
few days later, they couldn't
recall them. This may explain why researchers
find only "good cases" He believes some patients change their story because they are embarased to admit where they have been, even to their families, while those who have heavenly visions remembered and reported the details.
So don't get a false sense of security, that what follows death is always a pleasant thing. Hell
is a very real place - one that you really don't want to go to when you die.
Voltaire, the famous French author, philosopher and atheist, was once asked if he would say something to comfort a friend who was dying. Voltaire responded , " I don't think I can do that. The thought that there might really be a hell plagues me continually."
next post 26th October
ONE HEARTBEAT
AWAY
PART 46
(Mark Cahill's Book)
But over and over again, God has clearly said we are choosing . For example:
He that believeth on Him, is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (1st Corinthians
11:31)
God is the glory of heaven and the terror of hell. It is the wrath of God that makes hell hell. If you wind up in hell, you end up being away from the glory of the
Lord - His goodness - but you will never get away from His wrath.
Some people think Satan is in charge of hell, but Satan is a defeated foe and isn't in charge of anything. God is always in charge! He is the sovereign ruler over all of heaven and earth - and hell. Hell is not a kingdom for Satan to rule, or a place for people to party. It is a place of eternal punishment.
The worst part of hell is not the torment, but that the torment will never end. If you are one of those rejecting the truth of God, it will be a fearful thing for you to stand before God one day.
Picture the scene as portrayed by the prophet, and apostle John:
And I saw a great white throne, and Himthat sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great,
stand before God; and the books were opened : and another book was opened which is the Book Of Life; and the dead were judged out of those things which weere written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell gave up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire: this is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the Book Of Life, was cast into the lake of fire . (Revelation 20:11-15).
The first death is when
our soul separates from
our body. At that
moment, if we are believing
in and loving God, our soul
also will go to be with God.
Paul wrote when pondering
the inevitability of his own
death :
We are confident, I say, and willing to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. ( 2 Corinthians 5:8)
The 2nd death happens at the last judgment, when a soul who didn't go to be with God and who has been in hell until then, is formerly sentenced, along with the rest of condemned mankind, to separation from the all-loving presence of God and goes into the lake of fire for eternity.
We will all experience the first death, but but how can you and I make sure that we don't experience the second death? We will see very shortly what determines the difference between eternal life in heaven and eternal suffering in hell. Youwill want to be sure that you never go anywhere near there for even ten seconds,let alone for ten million plus years.
next post Tuesday 24th October
TWENTY SEVENTEEN
PART 29
Hello folks,
13th July, Steve sends documents via e-mail for me to check, sign and send back. He also informs us that he and Sue are coming to Rustenburg on the weekend as there are some things he needs to sort out and also needs to find out what Mr A's case is.
There has been no power play tonight.
Friday 14th July. Charmaine comes to work but is not well. We let he do floors and dishes and send her home. She will come in on Saturday and Sunday morning to clean the floors as we do not know which day Steve is coming.
Steve has heard from Andre that he is
available on Sunday 16th July.
Saturday 15th - dog grooming day. Ruth takes dogs to parlour - buys them new jackets - we don't know where there old jackets are. Too many unpacked boxes. Harry is not comfortable his jacket is too small.
Sunday 16th Steve
and Sue arrive but
Ruth is not here she
had to take Sally to
the vet as she is not
well. She is diagnosed
with diabetes.
Ruth must inject her with insulin twice a day and she is put on a special diet. No red meat, bones or fat.
Monday 17th - Ruth counts our money from the coins and sets aside what we need to do with it. She takes R600 and waves it in the air and tells me she is taking it for tomorrow's shopping. I am working on computer so don't take much notice but I think she went straight back to her room.
Tuesday 18th - Ruth goes to town - buys Harry a bigger jacket and not much else. While gone she phones me and asks me to check whether the R600 is in her drawer or on top of it under her Bible. I check but find nothing. She tells
me not to worry she remembers folding the notes up and will look when she gets home. I find my ID book on her computer desk so take it and put it in my handbag. If that disappears I do not have the strength needed to replace it. It is a very necessary part of my life.
next post 29th October
PRAISING GOD
PART 6
Praise the Lord!
Praise Him in His sanctuary.
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
Praise Him for His mighty deeds.
Praise Him according to His
excellent greatness.
Praise Him with the trumpet wound.
Praise Him with the harp and lyre
Praise Him with timbrel and dancing
Praise Him with stringed instruments,
and pipe.
Praise Him with loud cymbals
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath
praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
Blessed be the Lord. my Rock,
Sing to the Lord a new song
and His praise be in the congregation
of His godly ones.
Let Israel be glad in his Maker,
Let the sons of Zion rejoice in
their King
Let them praise His Name with
dancing
Let them sing praises to Him with
timbrel and lyre.
For the Lord takes pleasure in His
people.
He will beautify the afflicted ones
with salvation.
Let the godly ones
exult in glory
Let them sing for joy
on their beds.
Let the high praises of God be in the mouth.
Praise the Lord!
I will extol Thee, my God, O King.
And I will bless Thy name
forever and ever.
Every day I will bless Thee
And I will praise Thy name
forever and ever.
Great is the Lord and highly
to be praised
and His greatness is
unsearchable
One generation shall praise Thy
works to another
And declare Thy mighty acts.
On the glorious splendour of
Thy majesty.
And on Thy wonderful works
I will meditate.
And men shall speak of the power
of Thy awesome acts.
And I will tell of Thy greatness
They shall eagerly utter the memory
of Thy abundant goodness, and shout
joyfully of Thy righteousness.
next post 28th October
ONE HEARTBEAT AWAY
