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What Are These Stones? Sep 11, 2013
“The twelve-year old SUV is still with me. The day I registered it for the plates was the day America was attacked in New York and Washington by terrorists. 9/11. The day we all remember.
I had purchased the car three weeks earlier and decided that morning was the time to go to the motor vehicle bureau and finish the registration process. When I returned home my wife met me at the door with the news about the attacks. In between phone calls from family and friends who wanted to discuss it I was glued to my television the remainder of the day.
This year's anniversary was almost forgotten. The passage of time has a way of removing significance from a day or an event. Had I not looked at the news alert in my inbox I might have forgotten this day. But I look out my window and see my SUV and remember the event. An aging motor vehicle reminds me of an event that took nearly three thousand lives and shocked a nation. In a pathetic way it is a memorial, and memorials are important since they help us remember.
In the book of Joshua, God told the people to erect a memorial of twelve stones to remember how they crossed over the dry land of the Jordan River by His grace. Whenever, they or their children looked upon and asked about their purpose they were to say, "Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land" (Joshua 4:21-22). A pile of rocks were to remind them God acts in history and among nations. Whatever it takes.
Maybe that's another reason to keep my twelve-year old SUV around. It is still giving good service and function. And it acts as a reminder of a day and an event with deep meaning and significance in American history. We should not forget.”
10 year anniversary 9/11 From: https://www.ucg.org/learn/blogs/what-are-these-stones
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Throwing Stones
“We all have a responsibility to use our words wisely. The Bible contains clear warnings about the dangers of gossip, and emphasizes it should be avoided. Gossip and listening to gossip has the power to shape false perceptions and destroy lives.
When the author of this article, Robert Berendt, visited a friend he was reminded of the importance of not slandering and gossiping about others. During their conversation his friend showed him a smooth stone he carried all the time. He explained he carried it to remind himself not to throw stones at others. Robert thought it was a great idea and has been carrying his own little stone ever since.
John 8:1-11 relates the instance of the woman who was caught in adultery. She was brought before Jesus Christ by those who wanted to stone her to death for her sin (Deuteronomy 22:22). Although Jesus knew she was guilty, it must have been an enormous relief to her when He said He did not condemn her, and her accusers left. When Jesus wrote in the dust and announced he who was without sin could cast the first stone, her accusers realized they had also sinned and needed to be forgiven.
Robert went on to explain he had decided to keep a stone in his pocket because he realized he had also sinned, and that Jesus had died for his sins when He could have just as easily condemned him. All of us seem to be ready to give advice or tell people how things should be done long before we are asked. We also often deflect criticism of ourselves by judging others. It seems to make us feel better when we can find flaws in another person. Perhaps our own flaws seem smaller then. Jesus spoke to this in Matthew 7:3-4 when He stated we should be sure our own eyes are clear before we reach out to remove a speck from someone else’s eye.
Words can destroy lives just as surely as the biggest rock thrown at them. One often hears of young people who have been bullied and pushed aside to the point that they despair of life. Proverbs 25:18 speaks to the damage words can do, comparing our words to a club, sword or sharp arrow. While Proverbs 16:27-28 tells us words have the power to separate the closest friends and that ungodly men dig up evil about others.
In Genesis we read that although Adam and Eve both sinned, they could not admit they were to blame. Eve blamed the serpent, Adam blamed Eve and, in a way, both blamed God. Nowhere in the account is the self-examination and repentance seen that God seeks.
By looking into what is taught in the Bible we should learn to curb our often wayward tongues in our interactions with others. Proverbs 16:21-24 outlines the goals we should have in order to add “health to the bones” of others. God’s Word is His mirror, which when we study it reveals our true selves and should motivate us to change (James 1:23-24).”
From: https://www.ucg.org/watch/beyond-today/virtual-christian-magazine-june-2008/throwing-stones
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Not Only a Matter of Diet
“From cover to cover, from Genesis to Revelation, nowhere in the Bible do we find an example of a servant of God or follower of Jesus Christ eating the flesh of an unclean animal.
If at any time the distinctions between clean and unclean meats had ceased to exist, shouldn’t that have been made clear in the Bible through the example of God’s servants?
On the contrary, well into the time of the early Church we find Christ’s followers scrupulously avoiding eating animal flesh that God had revealed as being unclean (Acts 10:14; 11:8). Prophecies of the time of the end make the same distinctions (Revelation 18:2; Isaiah 66:15-17).
But there’s more to the matter than diet. A thorough study of the Bible helps us understand other dimensions to the significance of the distinctions between clean and unclean meats.
God’s Word describes the flesh of unclean animals as an “abomination” (Leviticus 11:10-13, 20, 23, 41-42) and “detestable” (Deuteronomy 14:3)—and in that light we are warned against consuming such meat (Leviticus 11:43). Strong language, but the lesson is that we need to accept all aspects of the Bible, including the basic food laws in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.
In instituting the sacrificial system for ancient Israel, God commanded many specific sacrifices involving animals. Nowhere, however, does He command or allow the sacrifice of an unclean animal, nor is there a record of any of God’s servants ever sacrificing such an animal to Him.
Such a sacrifice would have joined the holy with that which God had designated unclean and defiled. It would have been simply unthinkable to a true servant of God because it would have been an affront to the Creator Himself.” From: https://www.ucg.org/learn/bible-study-aids/what-does-bible-teach-about-clean-and-unclean-meats/what-does-bible-teach-6
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“The subtle, philosophical idea that everyone can determine what they believe to be true values challenges the authority of the Bible and insidiously permeates Christian beliefs and standards.
“When God formed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, they were part of a created order that was "very good" (Genesis 1:31). But in describing their creation as good, God did not mean Adam and Eve were inherently good or were inclined to choose to live God's way.
“Want to know how to live to 100? Eat plenty of beans, says plenty of research studies on the longest-living populations in the world.
Nowadays, there are many tasty varieties of beans on the market, not only staples like garbanzos but also choices like cranberry, cannellini, and fava beans. Eat beans and live longer, maybe even live to 100.
Why did Easter replace the Passover?
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Devout Catholics participate in a Good Friday procession.
“While sitting in a waiting room, waiting for an eye exam, an elderly gentleman walked in whose appearance caught my eye. He had a nice suit on with a very nice wool overcoat. His shoes where so shiny you could probably see yourself in them. I can assure you I did not try. I thought to myself, this guy is rich, probably a CEO. As I looked around the room, everyone else was dressed in their jeans and one lady even had holes in her jeans. When I looked at the other people in the room, and how they were dressed, I certainly was not left with the same impression as I with the immaculate dressed elderly gentleman.
“Learn the pros, cons and safe ways to remove meat products from your diet 
