Sharing My Faith With My Non-Christian Friends and Family? Day of Atonement A Christian Holy Day. What Is Really in Hot Dogs?

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Is There Any Point in Sharing My Faith With My Non-Christian Friends and Family?

“If they'll be in the second or general resurrection anyway, is there any point in sharing my faith with my non-Christian friends and family? Absolutely!

Ben Duchac/Unsplash

There is certainly a point in sharing our faith with others, but the method by which we share our faith is equally if not more important.

We see within Scripture that God is the One who calls people to His truth (John 6:44). But we also see in scripture that Christ Himself told His disciples—those who believed in and followed Him—to go out to the world and preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to every creature (Mark 16:15-16). So the fact that God draws people to Christ didn't absolve the disciples of their personal responsibility to preach the gospel.

We don't know whether God is working with someone or not, and it's impossible to know how our example—or perhaps our words—might positively affect someone.

God desires that no man should perish and that all should come to repentance and knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9), and there is an incredible amount of joy in heaven over every sinner that repents (Luke 15:7). Those individuals who overcome their sins in this life will inherit the Kingdom of God (Revelation 21:7).By extension, as followers of Jesus Christ, we have a similar responsibility today. What if we are the tool that God uses to draw another sheep into His fold? We don't know whether He is working with someone or not, and it's impossible to know how our example—or perhaps our words—might positively affect someone that God is working with. What if it leads another person to repent and turn to God?

The gospel that Jesus preached was the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Those who believe it, accept it and overcome in this life will have an opportunity to be a part of the first resurrection—a resurrection which is referred to in Hebrews 11 as a "better resurrection" (Revelation 20 discusses the resurrections in more detail).

So there is certainly a point in sharing our faith with others, but the method by which we share our faith is equally if not more important. In Matthew 5:14 Jesus suggests we are to be as a "light on a hill"—a soft and welcoming light in the distance that people can see and navigate towards. Have you ever accidentally shone a powerful flashlight into your eyes? Was it pleasant and inviting? If our interaction with others is "shining our light" in this way, effectively blinding them—there's a good chance that it won't be welcome or appreciated.

Instead of blinding others, Peter simply tells us to live good honorable lives among those who are not believers, that they might see our conduct and glorify God in the day of His coming, letting our light shine in an appropriate way (1 Peter 2:12).”  From: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/is-there-any-point-in-sharing-my-faith-with-my-non-christian-friends-and-family

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Day of Atonement,  A Christian Holy Day

Transcript of video at: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/day-of-atonement-a-christian-holy-day

The Day of Atonement is relevant to Christians today, representing a beautiful step in God's plan of salvation.

[Steve Myers] “The Day of Atonement. Sounds kind of odd, especially to most Christians' ears. What is the Day of Atonement? Almost sound like it's Jewish. Well, many times people will turn to Leviticus 23 and point out the fact that it's listed there as a day we should observe. Many say no, it's just for the Jews or for the Israelites. What is amazing to notice is that in Leviticus 23, it immediately says, "These are the Feasts of the Lord."  So, they're not feasts of Jews, they're not feasts of Israelites, they're God's feasts. And most don't even realize Atonement is also an important New Testament church festival. It's mentioned in the Book of Acts. Acts 27 mentions the fast, and that is referring to the Day of Atonement.

What happens on the day of Atonement, and why is it important for Christians today? Is it a Christian festival? Yeah, the answer is absolutely. There is no doubt. Luke, the New Testament writer, refers to the Day of Atonement, and when you recognize the spiritual meaning, on the Day of Atonement we're told to fast, which means we don't eat, we don't drink. Sounds like just a basic physical kind of a thing but the reality is it is a spiritual festival, and eating and drinking and staying away from that causes us to recognize our humanity. That we need food and drink if we're going to live a physical life. It definitely reminds us if we're going to live a spiritual life, we need God in us. We can't survive spiritually without God, in the same way we can't survive spiritually without food and drink.

And so, it points to a time that ultimately the whole human race will have an opportunity to be at one with God. In fact, it's kinda seen that way in English when you think of Atonement, we are going to ultimately be at one. We'll ultimately be at one with God and this festival points to that very theme, that ultimately Christ will return. He's going to return to this earth, and He will reconcile man to Himself. He made the Atonement for our sins. We deserve death and we can be at one because Christ atoned, paid the penalty for our sins.

But even more than that, here's the amazing part when it comes to Atonement. Yes, it pictures the forgiveness of sin. Yes, it pictures more than that, that when Christ returns He will remove the primary cause of sin, and that's Satan himself. When Christ returns, we're told in scripture, that Satan will be bound. For 1,000 years he'll no longer be able to influence mankind. And so, Atonement pictures that very fact. So, by fasting on this day, we draw closer to God and we recognize that that ultimate reconnection, that reconciliation with God can take place. So, Atonement, it's not a Jewish feast, it is a Christian festival that represents a beautiful step in the process of God's plan for all of mankind.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/day-of-atonement-a-christian-holy-day

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What Is Really in Hot Dogs?

Transcript of video at: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/what-is-really-in-hot-dogs-2/

“What percentage of a hot dog is actually muscle tissue?

Actually, there was a forensic study on hot dogs published earlier this year in the Annals of Diagnostic Pathology to answer the age-old question: what is really in them? It was like a CSI episode! They found…bone, blood vessels, nerves, cartilage, skin. But the kicker was that the amount of actual meat in a hot dog was less than ten percent.

Let’s look at hot dogs. Same serving size, but Bessie’s over here has almost five times more calories, 150 times more fat, infinitely more saturated fat, and cholesterol.

How did the meat industry respond to this devastating new cancer report? Well, the beef industry spin was that the report was “bad advice,” and that “another scientific study found no link between meat and cancer.” A study that was, in their words, “independent,” “comprehensive.” “How the WCRF research report could come to a different conclusion is perplexing,” they wrote. Well, I found the “independent, comprehensive study” to which the beef industry is referring, and wasn’t perplexed anymore!

I was on to this study like brown on rice. Here are the so-called “facts.” Let’s compare: the WCRF report looked at 7,000 studies; theirs looked at 500. This report has 537 pages; this one has four. This report was written by nine independent teams of scientists, hundreds of peer reviewers, and 21 of the top cancer researchers in the world. This one was written by these two guys. You can’t see, but the picture cuts off their cowboy hats.

Time spent to produce: this one took more than five years; this one just says “last summer.” And finally, the report that found a link between meat and cancer was overseen by the World Health Organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and funded by a leading cancer charity. This other one was overseen by a scientists-for-hire, for-profit firm, which has come out with similar reports downplaying the risk of pesticides, asbestos, and, of course, cigarette smoke. This “independent” study? Bought and paid for by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

But if you think that takes gall, wait until you see what the pork industry did. Smithfield, the largest pork producer in the world, launched the “Deli for the Cure” campaign, donating five cents to early detection for every pound sold of exactly the type of meat the WCRF report says causes the most cancer. I guess it’s the least they can do. If they’re going to give us cancer early, might as well help detect it early for us, too.”  From: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/what-is-really-in-hot-dogs-2/

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by Dianne Moore.

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