Well Known Atheist Changed His Mind. Do Good People Really Go To Heaven? Can You Reverse Type 2 Diabetes with a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet?

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Why A Well Known Atheist Changed His Mind

Imagine being one of the world’s foremost atheists, having written more than 30 books, many of which are hailed as hallmarks of atheistic thought. Then, suddenly, you announce you now believe in God, resulting in a hail of criticism and scorn from most of your colleagues and the secular press.

Oxford professor Dr. Antony Flew, Author of 'There is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind'

It’s a fascinating story, and one that holds many valuable answers for those who have asked the most basic and important question: Does God exist?

The name of this respected Oxford professor was Dr. Antony Flew, who spent 50 years teaching philosophy and constructing arguments to support atheism. Prior to his death in 2010, he wrote a book in 2007 titled There Is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind, explaining what had compelled him to admit he had been wrong. Dr. Flew mentioned early in life he came on a principle that would guide his career: Follow the evidence wherever it leads, no matter how unpopular that may be.

In his youth, Dr Flew was convinced the evidence backed an atheistic perspective. Then, from the 1980s on, with increased knowledge about the complexities and precision of the universe, the evidence started turning against atheism and toward a Creator God. Dr. Flew then reluctantly reassessed his beliefs: “I now believe that the universe was brought into existence by an infinite Intelligence ... .that this universe’s intricate laws manifest what scientists have called the Mind of God…. Why do I believe this, given that I expounded and defended atheism for more than a half century? The short answer is this: this is the world picture, as I see it, that has emerged from modern science” (There Is a God, p. 88).

He offered three lines of evidence that led him to his belief in God.

How did the laws of nature come to be?

Dr. Flew wrote: “Over the last two decades, my whole framework of thought has been in a state of migration. This was a consequence of my continuing assessment of the evidence of nature. When I finally came to recognize the existence of a God, it was not a paradigm shift, because my paradigm remains, as Plato in his Republic scripted his Socrates to insist: ‘We must follow the argument wherever it leads’” (p. 89).

Dr Flew admitted the evidence dealing with the laws of nature increasingly indicated a Superior Mind was operating at a cosmic level: “The leaders of science over the last hundred years ... .have built a philosophically compelling vision of a rational universe that sprang from a divine Mind…. this is the particular view of the world that I now find the soundest philosophical explanation of a multitude of phenomena encountered by scientists and laypeople alike” (p. 91).

“One of the most enigmatic aspects of the laws of nature is that these invisible forces act on matter and energy, but are not matter or energy themselves. For them to work ….they had to be in place before matter and energy existed ... .To believe all these intricate laws that act in unison somehow appeared together at just the right time, with just the right force, without some organizing Intellect behind them, defies logic.” (p. 96).

How did life originate from non-life?

Flew’s second line of evidence for a belief in God has to do with the great difference that exists between life and non-life: “…biologists’ investigation of DNA has shown, by the almost unbelievable complexity of the arrangements needed to produce life, that intelligence must have been involved…especially where this first living matter already possessed the capacity to reproduce itself genetically….there was no satisfactory naturalistic explanation for such a phenomenon” (p. 123).

Dr. Flew concluded that a self-replicating living thing being produced by chance from non-life utterly defies all odds. He pointed out: “The philosophical question that has not been answered in origin-of-life studies is this: How can a universe of mindless matter produce beings with intrinsic ends, self-replication capabilities, and ‘coded chemistry’?” (p. 124). Although there is an increasing body of knowledge about how DNA and RNA work, scientists still don’t have a clue about how all these coding systems originated, which Flew concluded points to a Superior Intelligence at work: “The only satisfactory explanation for the origin of such ‘end-directed, self-replicating’ life as we see on earth is an infinitely intelligent Mind” (pp. 131-132).

Did something come from nothing?

Flew’s third line of evidence is related to the existence of the universe. In his early years, Flew believed the universe had always existed, and there was no need for a Creator to explain it. However new scientific discoveries made him question this premise and whether something could come out of nothing: “When I first met the big-bang theory as an atheist, it seemed to me the theory made a big difference because it suggested that the universe had a beginning and that the first sentence in Genesis (‘In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth’) was related to an event in the universe… If the universe had a beginning, it became… almost inevitable, to ask what produced this beginning.” (pp. 135-137).

“Modern cosmologists seemed just as disturbed as atheists about the potential theological implications of their work. Consequently, they devised influential escape routes that sought to preserve the nontheist status quo. These routes included the idea of the multiverse, numerous universes generated by endless vacuum fluctuation events, and Stephen Hawking’s notion of a self-contained universe” (p. 137).

Flew found all these arguments to be quite unconvincing. He concluded: “The three items of evidence…in this volume…can only be explained in the light of an Intelligence that explains both its own existence and that of the world.” (p. 155). As Scripture attests: “From the beginning, creation in its magnificence enlightens us to His nature. Creation itself makes His undying power and divine identity clear, even though they are invisible; and it voids the excuses and ignorant claims of these people [who would deny Him]” (Romans 1:20, The Voice)   From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-magazine/answers-from-a-famous-ex-atheist-about-god

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Do Good People Really Go To Heaven When They Die?

God described King David as "a man after My own heart," and one who would "do all My will" (Acts 13:22), yet the Apostle Peter stated in his first sermon: "....the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day…. For David did not ascend to heaven….." (Acts 2:29, 34, NIV).

The Apostle John also stated: "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man [Jesus Christ]" (John 3:13, NIV). Spiritual giants such as Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses, including others listed in Hebrews 11, did not ascend to heaven: "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised" (Hebrews 11:39 NIV).

King Solomon was inspired to write: "For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten" (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The patriarch Job echoed Solomon's words: ".... Man dies and is laid away; indeed he breathes his last and where is he?.... so man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep" (Job 14:10 and 12).

The dead are unconscious and unaware. Our emotions, thoughts, knowledge and feelings go to the grave with us. Job goes on to say: "O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time [the time of the resurrection], and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee...." (Job 14:13-15, KJV).

The writers of the Bible describe the experience after death not as going to heaven or hell, but simply as sleep. Notice, for example, how Daniel refers to the state of the dead in this prophecy of the resurrection: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2).

Jesus spoke of death as sleep. Speaking of a deceased girl whom He intended to raise from the dead, He told the mourners, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping" (Luke 8:52; Matthew 9:24). Before He resurrected Lazarus, He told the disciples, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." The disciples misunderstood, thinking Lazarus was sleeping because he was ill. "However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep" (John 11:11 and 13).

The key to the mystery of life after death is revealed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25). Paul confirms many were eyewitnesses to the fact Jesus Christ had risen from the grave (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). There were too many credible witnesses who saw and interacted with Him after He was raised from the dead for His resurrection to be denied.

Because Christ was resurrected we can be assured He will resurrect those who have been faithful to Him (1 Corinthians 15:12-21 NIV). The doctrine of the resurrection is listed among the fundamental doctrines of the Bible (Hebrews 6:1-2). It is a wonderful part of God's great master plan, and the hope of all true Christians (1 Corinthians 15:54).

When Jesus Christ resurrects those who have followed Him the Bible reveals it will not be so that they can go to live in heaven forever. Since Christ is coming back to earth (Zechariah 14:3-4), it makes sense that's where they will be as well: "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 14:3). (See our study guide Christ’s Reign On Earth: What It Will Be Like)

All of the dead —good and not so good alike—will eventually be resurrected, even those who have never heard the name of Christ in their lifetime, and have had no opportunity of salvation. (See issue 343 of Bible Insights Weekly for more information concerning when Jesus Christ will resurrect those who have died: The Second Resurrection To Judgment and The third resurrection.)  From: https://www.ucg.org/good-news/good-news-magazine-may-june-2003/do-good-people-really-go-heaven-when-they-die

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Can You Reverse Type 2 Diabetes with a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet?

Weight loss isn’t necessarily required for type 2 diabetes remission, but what is?

The goal of lifestyle treatment for type 2 diabetes is to reverse it, drive it into remission—meaning normal blood sugars on a normal diet without drugs—and exactly that can be achieved optimally with a whole food, plant-based diet, as I’ve reviewed before. For individuals who have had type 2 diabetes for more than eight years, often having faced multiple complications, remission may be harder to achieve because a significant number of insulin-producing beta cells in their pancreas are already depleted. Even though full remission may not be possible for all patients, most everyone may still be able to find their way towards better health and improve blood sugar control without adding more medications, and could even reduce the medications they are already on.

You’ve heard of prescribing medications, but what about deprescribing them? Deprescribing medications among patients with type 2 diabetes is actually something that’s more common in lifestyle medicine because intensive, therapeutic lifestyle change works pretty effectively and can result in substantial and rapid drops in blood glucose. In order to avoid blood glucose dropping too low, which results in hypoglycemia, medications need to be adjusted. And the potential benefits of deprescribing meds in older individuals is extensive, including reduced harm from taking many drugs at one time. It not only reduces risk of adverse drug reactions and lowers medication costs, but it actually improves people’s ability to take the drugs they need to be taking, because they aren’t overwhelmed with managing so many.

Deprescribing medications is individualized to each patient. But generally, most medical practitioners will first target the meds most likely to cause dangerously low blood sugars, such as sulfonylurea drugs like Glucotrol or Micronase, and insulin. When lifestyle medicine practitioners were surveyed, their perceived negative effects were minimal, with things like “pushback from insurance companies,” or patients upset they hadn’t been told earlier about the efficacy of a plant-based diet and that less medication is possible. I’d be angry too! The list of perceived positive effects is full of statements like “improved patient morale,” “empowering to patients,” and “improved sense of well-being and hope.”

Check out this randomized controlled trial of a whole food, plant‑based intensive lifestyle intervention among people with type 2 diabetes. It was successful in improving blood glucose measures, while also reducing medications, compared to standard medical care. More than half of those in the plant-based diet and exercise group reduced their diabetes medications, compared with only a fifth of those on the standard care. And this was also true for their heart disease medications. Double win. And contrary to what some may think, weight loss wasn’t necessarily required to result in remission. Just the plant foods and exercise were so powerful together, supporting what we already know: food can indeed be medicine.

What about those other health concerns that come along with diabetes, such as increased risk of cardiovascular disease? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found plant-based dietary patterns result in significantly better glucose control and lower LDL cholesterol levels, one of the big risk factors for heart attacks. People also lost weight and decreased their waist circumference, which serves as a sort of proxy for excess visceral fat, a kind of fat that can be particularly detrimental to health.

Type 2 diabetes is considered one of the most psychologically demanding chronic conditions. Just think about all that people with diabetes have to manage—medications, doctors’ appointments, and regularly stabbing their finger to get blood sugar readings, not to mention the fears of going blind, going on dialysis, and getting parts of their lower limbs amputated. A systematic review of the effectiveness of plant-based diets on wellbeing found that, compared to standard care, plant-based diets are associated with significant improvements in emotional wellbeing, depression, and quality of life, along with overall improvements in health.

As the incidence and prevalence of diabetes continues to rise, the time is now for clinicians to recommend a low-fat, whole food, plant-based diet to all of their patients, but especially those patients living with and at risk for type 2 diabetes. Whole food, plant-based diets can prevent diabetes, as well as change the course of the disease, by controlling blood sugar naturally with no known negative side effects.”

From: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/can-you-reverse-type-2-diabetes-with-a-whole-food-plant-based-diet/

Below is an approximation of this video’s audio content. To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video

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Danger, Fake News. Heeding an Alarm: The Texas Tragedy Still Haunts Us. The Same Diet That’s Anti-Cancer Is Also Anti-Heart Disease And Anti-Lung Disease.

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Fake News in the Church? It Started in a Garden...

“Fake news isn’t new.

In fact, the very first fake news story was broadcast in the Garden of Eden when Satan told Eve:
“You will not surely die...” (Genesis 3:4)

That was a lie — and it’s been spreading ever since.

Christ called Satan the father of lies (John 8:44), and to this day, he remains the invisible broadcaster behind every slander, whisper, distortion, and deception — including many that make their way right into the Church of God.

In a world trained to doubt everything and mock everyone, the spirit of fake news has crept in among God’s people — not just through media, but in our conversations, our comments, our posts, and even our fellowship.

Let’s be real:
Gossip, rumors, harsh opinions, character assassinations — these are all modern forms of false witness, and they violate the Ninth Commandment:

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)

Even if something is “technically” true, if it’s told with the intent to damage, divide, or discourage — it becomes spiritual fake news.

God hates it.

“A lying tongue… a false witness who speaks lies… and one who sows discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16–19)

It’s easy to fall into it.
We’ve all heard it — maybe we’ve even spread it.

That’s why we must wake up and take spiritual inventory.

Christ didn’t just speak truth — He was the Truth (John 14:6).
As His followers, we must reflect that same Spirit of truth — in our words, our tone, our posts, and even in our private conversations.

So ask yourself:

Do I speak negatively about others?

Do I pass on things I haven’t personally confirmed?

Do I allow cynicism or distrust to shape my attitude in the Church?

Cynicism isn’t harmless. It damages your faith and erodes others’. It causes stumbling — and Christ warned that causing a brother to stumble is no small thing (Matthew 18:6).

This isn’t about being naïve. It’s about being spiritually responsible.
We must not become the carriers of a spiritual virus that Satan uses to weaken the Church from within.

So here’s the challenge:

▸ Don’t engage in or pass along gossip
▸Speak well of others when possible — and stay silent when it’s not
▸Change the subject when others veer negative
▸Choose your words — and your thoughts — carefully

“Let all that you do be done with love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne.” (Revelation 3:21)

You were called to truth — not just to know it, but to live it.

Let’s overcome the spirit of fake news — and be vessels of faith, clarity, and peace.

With sincerity and encouragement in Christ,
Bob Schenfield”

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Heeding an Alarm: The Texas Tragedy Still Haunts Us

“Have you ever heard an emergency alarm sound and ignored it?  I have.
I remember the alarm system when I was young in my hometown. A weather alert would come on the television or the radio. Those were the only two systems we had. Because my mother had once experienced a tornado, and we had a next-door neighbor who took the alarms seriously and came knocking on our door, we took it seriously. We would go to our basement until the alarm passed.

Recently, I visited my hometown. One night, storms came through, spawning tornadoes, and the tornado alarms went off. The town now has a system of very loud alarms. When the alarms sounded my wife and I did nothing. We turned over and went back to sleep. Fortunately, nothing occurred. I am alive to write this piece.

I am still digesting the recent flooding tragedy in south Texas along the Guadalupe River. Every time I think of the young girls who were swept away in the dark of night, I grieve for their families. The whole incident haunts us. The region will take a long time to recover. Parents and family of the dead will never fully recover.

Could the devastating loss of life have been prevented? Had it occurred in daylight, rather than the early hours of morning when all were asleep, the number of casualties would certainly have been reduced. It happened when it did, when people were sleeping and evidently the only alarm system was on people’s cell phones. When you are asleep it is difficult to hear and heed an alarm.

I read that Kerr County, Texas, where this occurred is about the size of the state of Rhode Island (1,107 square miles) and only has 54,000 inhabitants. Rhode Island has more than a million people. Emergency services were likely tailored to the size and resources of the population. They proved inadequate.

What do we learn from this tragedy?

I will pay more attention to the sounding of an alarm, whether it is a tornado, fire or other emergency. It is the right thing to do. One day danger will strike. If we prepare even a small amount, it can save a life.

I have thought about the biblical references to the coming of the Lord as a “thief in the night.”  This phrase is used in four locations in the New Testament. Revelation 16:15 says, “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” (Luke 21:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:4; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3).

The metaphor is striking—“a thief in the night.”  While we sleep—when we are least able to hear and respond to danger.
These scriptures refer to spiritual watchfulness.
The events of the Day of the Lord will begin suddenly. Spiritual deception is high. World events suddenly shift. These biblical references speak to preparedness, alertness and righteous works.
My lack of reaction to a local alarm tells me I may need to study these scriptures again.
There is much to learn.” From: https://mailchi.mp/ucg/heeding-an-alarm-texas-tragedy?e=72c729d811

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The same diet that’s anti-cancer is also anti-heart disease and anti-lung disease.

“Following cancer prevention guidelines for lifestyle and diet may increase longevity.

Adherence to cancer prevention recommendations isn’t just associated with higher survival in cancer patients and lower risk of dying from cancer, but lower risk of dying overall. That’s the beauty of eating a more plant-based diet.

Thirty to 50 percent of common cancers are preventable with diet and lifestyle. We have the power to change our health destiny.

A healthy lifestyle that includes a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes may help reduce the number of breast cancer incidences, for example.

The American Institute for Cancer Research recommendations include maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and eating a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans, while limiting fast food, processed junk, meats, soda, and alcohol.

Specific to breast cancer, those who met most of those recommendations only had half the risk, compared to individuals who only met a couple. If you could only do one of those recommendations, limiting animal foods seems most protective. Adherence to the recommendations is also associated with higher survival in people who already have cancer.

Higher dietary fiber consumption was associated with a 37 percent lower risk of dying from all causes put together and a 28 percent lower risk of dying specifically from breast cancer among breast cancer survivors––and it didn’t take much. There was about a 10 percent drop in death risk for every increment of 5 daily grams of dietary fiber. That’s like a cup of oatmeal or broccoli, or just a third of a cup of beans.

Watch the video “Diet and Lifestyle for Cancer Prevention and Survival” at see.nf/3O4GyAa

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The New Covenant: What Is New About It? Don’t Think Christ Came to Destroy the Law. The Truth About Animal By-Products in Pet Food.

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The New Covenant: What Is New About It?

“What was the problem with the Old Covenant, and what really changed with the New Covenant? What does the Bible say is new about the New Covenant?

Throughout history, God has made various covenants, or agreements, with human beings. These covenants lay out the terms of the relationship God wants to have with humanity. Two of the key covenants recorded in the Bible are:

1. The covenant God made with ancient Israel at Mount Sinai, also referred to as the “Old Covenant.”
2. The “New Covenant,” which was inaugurated by Jesus Christ, and which is the covenant that is in force for spiritual Israel, the Church.

Scripture states that the New Covenant is making the Old Covenant obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). But what does that mean? Did God create an entirely different set of terms for this new agreement? Just what is “new” about the New Covenant?

This article highlights four key changes from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. Although these four items do not encompass every difference, they illustrate the fundamental distinction between the two agreements.

A change of the sacrificial law

The Bible states that sinners earn the death penalty (Romans 6:23). Forgiveness of those sins requires blood to be shed to satisfy that penalty (Hebrews 9:22). Under the Old Covenant, the Israelites sacrificed animals as sin offerings, shedding the blood of those creatures as God commanded.

However, animal sacrifices were insufficient as substitutes for human beings. The sacrifices did not truly cleanse the Israelites from their wrongdoing, “for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4).

Since animal sacrifices could not blot out sins, why did God require them under the Old Covenant? Because those sacrifices reminded Israel of their sins and pictured the time when removal of the death penalty would truly become possible! God never intended for those sacrifices to be in force permanently! He had a plan in place “from the foundation of the world” to have Jesus Christ make the ultimate sacrifice (Revelation 13:8).

Christ’s sacrifice of Himself made it possible to take “away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Because He is God, and human beings were created through Him (Colossians 1:16), His life is worth immeasurably more than all other human lives throughout history. Thus, His sacrifice was more than sufficient as total payment for the death penalty we have earned because of sin.

When Christ instituted the New Covenant with His shed blood (Luke 22:20), He made it possible for us to be truly cleansed from sin (Hebrews 9:13-14; 1 John 1:7). The result was that animal sacrifices were no longer required as symbols, because Christ was the ultimate fulfillment of that symbolism. We accept Christ’s sacrifice at baptism. Although we must still repent each time we sin in the future, Christ’s sacrifice is applied upon our repentance—no further sacrifices for our sins are needed (Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:12).

A change of the priesthood

Under the Old Covenant, priests came from the family of Aaron in the tribe of Levi. The high priest was required to offer a sacrifice for the Israelites’ sins each year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-34). He alone was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place (the innermost room) in the tabernacle and to approach the mercy seat—which represented the throne of God.

The Israelites all deserved the death penalty for their sins, and so the high priest’s responsibility was to make intercession for them. Since he was also “subject to weakness,” he understood how easy it was to sin, and he could show compassion for the people (Hebrews 5:1-4).

However, as we saw, the shed blood came from animal sacrifices under this physical system. Thus the priests under the Old Covenant were not able to truly make people right with God, and a change was necessary (Hebrews 7:11-12).

That change came with Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for all humanity, which fulfilled the symbolism of the yearly sin offering on the Day of Atonement. But Christ also filled the role of the high priest by offering Himself. He continues to serve as our High Priest, interceding on our behalf (Hebrews 7:23-28).

Under the New Covenant, Christ does not serve in a physical tabernacle (Hebrews 9:11). Instead, He performs His duties as High Priest in “the true tabernacle” (Hebrews 8:1-2). Today the Church is “the household of God” and “a holy temple” (Ephesians 2:19-22).

Members of the Church are able to draw near to the true mercy seat—the throne of God—as they develop a close and meaningful relationship with the Father. This is made possible because of Christ’s sacrifice and His continuing role as our High Priest (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Due to the change from the Levitical priesthood and the physical tabernacle, the rituals associated with the tabernacle and temple under the Old Covenant are no longer required—including various types of food and drink offerings, as well as ceremonial washings. These physical rituals were only “imposed until the time of reformation” (Hebrews 9:8-10)—which Jesus Christ ushered in with the New Covenant.

Under the New Covenant, God’s people now have a High Priest in Jesus Christ who intercedes for them continually. Since Christ lived as a human being, He understands our weaknesses, can help us when we are tempted, and can show us compassion when we sin. We can therefore be confident in seeking forgiveness when we repent (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16).

A change of the heart

God gave Israel His eternal laws that define sin—with the 10 Commandments serving as the core of Israel’s responsibility under the Old Covenant (Exodus 34:27-28; Deuteronomy 4:13). However, there was one key problem with this arrangement: Although God’s law was, and is, perfect (Psalm 19:7), the people were not.

God knew in advance that the Israelites were missing something very important. They did not have the necessary heart to be truly obedient to Him (Deuteronomy 5:23-29). The Israelites agreed to obey God because of external motivation. They were afraid of punishment from God (Exodus 20:18-21), but that type of external motivation does not guarantee right behavior! Unless a person is internally convicted to do what is right, it can become far too easy to choose to do what is wrong instead.

Ancient Israel sadly fell into this trap and repeatedly disobeyed God throughout history, despite the fact that they suffered punishment as a result. Time and time again, the Israelites broke the covenant they made with God, illustrating a key flaw in the covenant. The flaw was not with the laws they agreed to obey, but rather with the people themselves (Hebrews 8:7-8)!

The Israelites did not have a heart to truly know God because the time was not yet right for God to give them that heart (Deuteronomy 29:4). But even without a right heart, it was still possible for the Israelites to respond to the correction God gave them when they made wrong choices. Unfortunately, they failed to adjust their behavior in the long run. However, their example provides a powerful lesson to us of how easy it is to sin (1 Corinthians 10:11-12).

Under the New Covenant, God’s people have the opportunity to receive a heart to obey Him. In the Old Testament, God announced that the time would come when His people would have His laws internalized and written on their hearts—when they would truly be able to know Him (Jeremiah 31:31-34; see “What Is the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:31?”).

When God’s Spirit was made widely available on the Day of Pentecost, that goal became possible. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians become able to think like God (1 Corinthians 2:11, 16). God’s mind—reflected in His law of love—can now be internalized within His people.

A change of promises

Under the Old Covenant, Israel agreed to obey God; and in return, God agreed to treat Israel as “a special treasure” (Exodus 19:5-6). He promised Israel specific blessings, including rain at the appropriate time; victory in battle; freedom from sickness; a fear of Israel among other nations; and such tremendous prosperity that Israel would lend to other nations, not borrow (Leviticus 26:3-13; Deuteronomy 7:12-15; 28:1-14).

These promises were all incredible. But they were also all limited to this physical existence! There was no opportunity under the Old Covenant for the nation of Israel to receive access to the gift of eternal life. Thus, the Israelites could only enjoy the blessings of the Old Covenant during their life span on this earth.

Why was eternal life not offered under the Old Covenant? Because Jesus Christ had not yet come to this earth as humanity’s Savior, and “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Christ’s sacrifice provided a way for humans who had not lived perfectly (all of us!) to avoid the death penalty. Forgiveness was a key requirement so that human beings could “receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15)—eternal life (Titus 3:7).

Another necessary missing component is the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ called it “the Helper” (John 16:7), a “Promise” from God that He gave on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:4-5; 2:1-4).

As covered earlier, the Holy Spirit enables God’s laws to be written on our hearts. But beyond that, the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to be “heirs of God,” so that we can “be glorified together” with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). God’s Spirit serves as a guarantee, or down payment, on our promised inheritance of eternal life in God’s family (Ephesians 1:13-14).

The Holy Spirit was made available to a select few of God’s servants who lived prior to Christ’s inauguration of the New Covenant (1 Peter 1:10-11). However, the vast majority of the Israelites did not have access to that Spirit, and thus did not have access to eternal life. But God intended from the beginning for all human beings to have that opportunity (Titus 1:2)—His purpose is to bring “many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10), expanding His family.

Access to salvation under the New Covenant makes this “a better covenant” than the covenant at Mount Sinai, because the New Covenant “was established on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). Ultimately, all human beings throughout history will have an opportunity for eternal life as part of the New Covenant. Those who become part of God’s family will dwell with Him forever, and there will be no more death (Revelation 21:1-4).

The New Covenant amplifies the terms of the Old Covenant

This article has not covered every difference between the Old and New Covenants. However, the changes we have examined illustrate a consistent trend: Contrary to the belief of many, the New Covenant does not abolish all the terms of the Old Covenant!

Both covenants include provisions for a sacrifice for sin, a priesthood serving in a tabernacle, obedience to God’s laws, and promised blessings from God. However, in each case, the changes in the New Covenant amplify the terms of the Old Covenant!

Under the Old Covenant, God presented the Israelites with two options and told them to “choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). God offers that same choice today to those whom He calls into the New Covenant. What makes the New Covenant “new” is that it is a far better agreement than the one entered into at Mount Sinai.

Ultimately all humanity will have the opportunity to be part of the New Covenant. But if God is calling you to be part of that covenant now by helping you to understand His truth, you have a decision to make. Will you choose life—eternal life? The choice is up to you.

For further study on this topic, read the article “Biblical Covenants.”

From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/covenants/the-new-covenant/?

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Don’t Think Christ Came to Destroy the Law

Matthew 5:17-19

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

(Listen to the "Verse by Verse" episode covering this scripture.)

“Some misunderstand Jesus Christ’s mission, feeling He did away with the teachings of the Old Testament and replaced them with new teachings. But Christ made clear that His teachings were a continuation of the teachings He inspired to be a part of the Holy Scriptures.

It was the One who became Jesus Christ who thundered the 10 Commandments from Mount Sinai and spoke to Moses (1 Corinthians 10:4; see “Jesus in the Old Testament?”).

What does it mean to “fulfill” the law? The Greek word translated “fulfill” is pleroo, which means “to make full, to fill to the full” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words).

Jesus Christ continued in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6 and 7) to expand the meaning of God’s law, to show its spiritual intent. By doing this, He gave fuller understanding and magnified and exalted the law (Isaiah 42:21). He in no way destroyed or annulled it.

In Matthew 5:19 Jesus clearly tells His followers to obey even what someone might consider “one of the least of these commandments.”

The essence of the New Covenant is not a change in the commandments, but the fact that they can be written on our hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit dwelling in Christians (Hebrews 10:16). This allows us to internalize and fully obey God in a way ancient Israel never could.”

For more about God’s commandments, see “The 10 Commandments for Today” and download our free booklet God’s 10 Commandments: Still Relevant Today.: 

From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/dont-think-christ-came-to-destroy-the-law/?

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The Truth About Animal By-Products in Pet Food

“Animal by-products — what could be more controversial to dog food shoppers than animal by-products?

These common pet food ingredients are loathed by many. Yet they’re accepted… and even revered… by others.

Fans claim animal by-products are nutritionally no different than any other type of meat. And they blame the ingredients’ noted unpopularity on the unsavory mental image they invoke.

Something supporters like to refer to as “the yuck factor”.²

Critics, on the other hand, insist these ingredients are nothing more than inedible waste of inferior nutritional value.

What Are Animal By-Products?

Animal by-products are what’s left of a slaughtered animal after the skeletal muscle meat intended for human consumption has been removed.

Or according to the USDA³…

“Animal by-products include all parts of a live animal that are not part of the dressed carcass.”

These processing leftovers (known as offal) include those parts of an animal which have been “rejected for human use and can be expected to be processed into animal feed”.⁴

For example…

• Liver
• Lungs
• Heads
• Blood
• Brains
• Spleen
• Kidneys
• Stomachs
• Intestines

Giblets (livers, hearts, gizzards and necks) as well as other organs can still be sold as edible meats as they are… or used as ingredients to make hot dogs, bologna and sausage.

Unfit for Human Consumption… OK for Dog Food?

Animal by-products classified as “inedible” and “unfit for human consumption” can still be sold for use in pet food.⁵

Some inedible waste can be used to produce wet or dry pet food as it is, soon after slaughter…

While other rejected waste can be rendered into meat or poultry meal products.

In any case, keep in mind…

What makes some by-products fit for human consumption (and others not) isn’t always a matter of what they are…

But also, how they’re handled after slaughter.

For example…

By-products that are not refrigerated immediately after slaughter but stored for hours in a hot offal trailer cannot be sold for human consumption…

But they can still be legally used for making pet food.

Turning Inedible Waste into Pet Food

On the other hand…

Rejected waste such as dead farm and zoo animals that have been declared unfit for human consumption can first be rendered into meal ingredients…

And then be used to make pet food.

What Is Rendering?

Rendering is a process similar to making stew… except that the stew is intentionally over-cooked.

With rendering, the idea is to start with a stew of by-products and cook away the water.

Then, skim away the fat and bake the residue.

What you end up with is a concentrated protein powder known as by-product meal.

Feed-Grade vs Pet-Food-Grade

In the specific cases of chicken and poultry, there are 2 grades of by-product meals…

• Feed grade by-product meal
• Pet food grade by-product meal

In an important 2003 study⁶, pet food grade by-product meal was compared to feed grade by-product meal.

The result?

Pet food grade by-product meal was found to be…

• Higher in protein⁷
• Lower in ash
• More digestible⁸
• More consistent⁹

Bottom line?

All things considered, pet food grade by-product meals are superior to feed grade by-product meals.

Unfortunately, without contacting the manufacturer, there’s no way to know which type of by-product meal is in any dog food.

The 2 Ways to Describe Animal By-Product Meals

Based upon the source of their raw materials, there are two ways to identify by-product meals.

• Named by-product meals
• Generic (anonymous) by-product meals

Named by-product meals have one thing in common. They all clearly identify the source species of the by-products that was used to make the meal.

So, on a pet food label…

You’ll find named by-product ingredients like…

• Chicken by-product meal
• Turkey by-product meal
• Poultry by-product meal
• Beef by-product meal

And although named by-product meals may not be considered the highest quality ingredients, they can be considered acceptable.

The One Type of Animal By-Product You Must Avoid

On the other hand…

Generic by-product meals are different. They do not identify the source of the meat.

Instead, they use vague and non-specific names like…

• Meat meal
• Meat and bone meal
• Meat by-product meal
• Animal by-product meal

What’s more…

Generic meat meals can also contain…

• Road kill
• Dead zoo animals
• Dead on arrival poultry
• Diseased and dying livestock
• Euthanized dogs and cats (unlikely today, but still possible)

Because you can never know the source of the meat used to make generic by-product meals, purchase of pet food products containing anonymous names should be avoided.

Nutritional Differences… Real or Imagined?

When comparing animal by-product meals with their “regular” meal counterparts, the differences can be nutritionally insignificant.

For example, in the case of rendered ingredients, the digestibility, biological value and amino acid content of both poultry and poultry by-product meals are nearly identical.¹⁰

So, if there’s little nutritional difference between the two, why then do some companies use meat by-products… while others don’t?

The Real Reason Dog Food Companies Use Animal By-Products

There’s one glaring and indisputable reason animal by-products remain so popular with some manufacturers… and not others.

Animal by-products are simply cheaper… notably cheaper than most any other comparable meat product. They’re used for making dog food because they save money. Not because they’re more nutritious.

Why is this important to a pet food shopper?

Although finding animal by-products in a recipe doesn’t guarantee you’ve discovered a good or a bad dog food, their presence must always be considered a reliable clue the food is made with cheaper ingredients.

The Bottom Line

With the sole exception of precisely identified organ meats, two rules will help you navigate the confusing world of meat-based dog food ingredients.

1. Never pay top dollar for any dog food that lists animal by-products near the top of its ingredients list.
2. Never buy any dog food containing generic animal by-products sourced from materials a manufacturer fails to clearly identify.”    

From: https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/animal-by-products/

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Why Has God Killed People? God's Plan for Mankind. How Much Lead Is in Organic Chicken Soup (Bone Broth)?

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Why Has God Killed People?

 Elke Karin Lugert/Unsplash

“If God loves human kind, why did He order the death of some people in the Old Testament?

God has revealed that His plan includes resurrecting humans. He will bring them back to life later to teach them the right way to live.

God is the one who created human life as part of His great plan to show love to us. As Creator, He retains control over His creation, including the right to decide when to end someone's life. In Deuteronomy 32:39 God says He is the only true God and has the right to kill or to make alive.

God has also revealed that His plan includes resurrecting humans—bringing them back to life (something we humans cannot do). So even when God decides to kill a whole nation because of their gross sins and the misery they were bringing on themselves (as He did to allow Israel to inherit the land He had promised to Abraham), that is not the end of those people. He will bring them back to life later to teach them the right way to live.

The Ten Commandments booklet addresses this issue in the chapter about the Sixth Commandment.

"Taking another person's life is not our right to decide. That judgment is reserved for God alone. That is the thrust of this commandment. God does not allow us to choose to willfully, deliberately take another person's life. The Sixth Commandment reminds us that God is the giver of life, and He alone has the authority to take it or grant humans permission to take it."

All of these points support God's right to take human life, including using the Lake of Fire to destroy those who refuse His offer of eternal life. Though it might seem strange at first, even when God kills someone, it can be a demonstration of His love.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/why-has-god-killed-people

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The Eighth Day, God's Plan for Mankind

Transcript of video at: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/the-eighth-day-gods-plan-for-mankind          (Eighth Day was yesterday.)

“God has a merciful and loving plan for ALL of mankind; the Eighth Day is a beautiful representation of this plan.  

[Steve Myers] “The final commanded festival of God is the Eighth Day. Leviticus 23 talks about this special festival with a unique name. Sometimes it's called the Last Great Day. And it shows some amazing things about how merciful our loving God is. There's a section in the Book of Revelation, in Revelation 20 that talks about God's love. And as you look at Revelation 20, this section beginning in verse 11, points to that very fact that it talks about a great white throne, and how all those who ever lived and died and never knew God will be resurrected. It says there, "The small and the great were standing before God," and it points to that time. And it says, "The books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life." And what this is pointing to is this deep spiritual understanding that God has a plan and a purpose for everyone.

Just because you never knew God, or never understood God, doesn't mean you will be condemned forever. God has a plan. God is love. And just because you may grown to know God, and those in some foreign remote area in the world didn't, it doesn't mean that they're lost forever. What this points to is the fact God is love, and everyone will have an opportunity. When it says, "The books were opened," the books are the Biblia is the word there. The Bible will be opened to all those who ever lived. They'll have an opportunity to understand the love of God. They'll be able to understand that there is a sacrifice for sin. They'll be able to understand that God is merciful, and then they can choose to follow God and live His way.

And so, that's the amazing thing about God and His plan and His purpose. It is there throughout Scripture, and this is a New Testament Christian observance, keeping the Last Great Day, the Eighth Day, recognizing the fact that God doesn't want any to perish, but He wants all to come to repentance. That's exactly what 2 Peter 3:9 says. And that is what God is all about. God has a plan, and it's shown throughout His Holy Day plan and His purpose. So read Leviticus 23, and recognize the great spiritual significance of God's Holy Days. You'll find it to be absolutely amazing.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/the-eighth-day-gods-plan-for-mankind

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How Much Lead Is in Organic Chicken Soup (Bone Broth)?

Let’s review lead from occupational exposures, shooting ranges, eggs, and bone broth.

Transcript of video at: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/friday-favorites-how-much-lead-is-in-organic-chicken-soup-bone-broth/?

Below is an approximation of this video’s audio content. To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video.

“Lead poisoning still occurs the United States despite extensive prevention efforts and strict regulations.” Ayurvedic supplements, for example, specifically marketed to pregnant women, exceeded safety levels by up to 4 million percent, making “Ayurvedic medicine use and lead poisoning…a continued concern in the United States.” “[H]eavy metals are intentionally added” to the supplements. But, don’t worry, Ayurvedic practitioners claim, the lead has been detoxified with cow pee!

“Calcium supplements [can be] an additional source of lead contamination”—something we’ve known about for half a century now. Calcium supplements made from bone may have the highest lead levels. But just regular calcium supplements were found contaminated too, including a number of big national brands.

Diet-wise, the greatest contribution to the lead intake of children and their parents may be dairy, but the most concentrated source may be wild game shot with lead-containing ammunition. Concerns have been raised by hunters, though, that lead-free bullets wouldn’t have the same “wounding capacity.” But, CT scans of kills show just as much damage is inflicted—demonstrating that lead-free bullets have equivalent “killing effectiveness” even against “ballistic soap,” which evidently has a similar density to vital organs.

Workers in battery plants can be exposed to a lot of lead, but the #1 “non occupational lead exposure” is shooting firearms. Not eating lead-laden meat, just taking target practice in indoor firing ranges; 75% of target shooters have elevated lead levels in their blood. Even outside, airborne lead released by the friction of the bullet against the barrel, or lead-containing primers, can lead to substantial lead exposure both in people and in local wildlife—as well as the soil, with lead levels higher than those found next to an industrial lead factory. Most lead in urban soil, though, is from the decades of leaded paint and gasoline, raising concerns about urban gardens. Most of the lead doesn’t get taken up by the plants, though, but can stick to the leaves and roots. This is bad news in that even crops from raised beds using clean soil may get contaminated in an urban environment, but the good news is that the lead can presumably just be washed off. The health benefits of gardening and fresh produce would “likely…more than…compensate for the risk at most sites.”

Eggs from backyard chickens, however, should be tested for lead, since the lead gets inside the eggs; and so, it can’t be washed off. Most of the lead ends up in the birds’ skeletons, which raises the question: What happens when you try to make chicken soup? There may be an upswing in people boiling bones due to encouragement from paleo diet advocates. The problem is that lead is a neurotoxin, and, not just a neurotoxin. It also adversely affects the bone marrow, and digestive tract, and kidneys, and circulatory system, and hormones, and reproduction. Symptoms of too much lead exposure include impaired cognition, anemia, abdominal pain, kidney problems, high blood pressure, miscarriages, memory problems, constipation, impotence, depression,  poor concentration, etcetera.

And, we know from human studies that lead is sequestered in the bones. When there’s a lot of “bone turnover,” like at menopause or during pregnancy, lead levels in the blood can go up. This bump can be minimized during pregnancy by getting enough calcium and lowering sodium intake. When astronauts lose bone in space, the lead is released into their bloodstream. But, ironically, since they’re no longer exposed to all the lead on Earth, their overall lead levels may go down. Bones are so good at sucking up lead, they can be sprinkled on firing ranges to prevent lead from leeching further into the environment.

These researchers were concerned that the boiling of farm animals’ bones might release lead into the broth. So, they made three types of organic chicken broth—one with the bones, one with just the meat, and one with the skin and cartilage. All the soups exceeded the maximum allowable dose level for lead, even the boneless. Surprisingly, the skin and cartilage was the worst, exceeding the safety level per one cup serving by like 475%.”    From: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/friday-favorites-how-much-lead-is-in-organic-chicken-soup-bone-broth/

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Christ in the Old Testament. Cause and Effect in Prophecy. Red Meat, TMAO, And Your Heart, By Harvard Health.

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Prophecies of Christ in the Old Testament

Luke 24:44 

Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”

“The Law, the Prophets and the Psalms designate the three sections of the Hebrew Scriptures we call the Old Testament.

The Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, make up a seamless, unified whole. Jesus Christ inspired hundreds of Old Testament prophecies that He later fulfilled through His birth, life and death. And there are many more prophecies that will be fulfilled in His second coming.

The Old Testament actually revealed Jesus Christ (see "Jesus in the Old Testament?"), and Jesus Christ then revealed the Father in the New Testament (Luke 10:22; John 14:6-11).

After His resurrection, Jesus “opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45). Though much of the Bible is accessible and helpful on many levels, without God’s help we can’t fully comprehend the Scriptures. But with the help of God’s Spirit we can understand “the things of God” that are “spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:11, 14).”  From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/prophecies-of-christ-in-the-old-testament/?

For more about how God opens our understanding of the Bible, see our article “How Do You Know You Have the Holy Spirit?”                   From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/prophecies-of-christ-in-the-old-testament/

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Cause and Effect in Prophecy

Deuteronomy 28:1, 15

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. …

“But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. …”

Bible prophecy, and the Bible as a whole, teaches us the principle of cause and effect. Obeying God’s good and beneficial laws ultimately leads to wonderful blessings. Disobeying—sinning—ultimately leads to the horrible curses described in Deuteronomy 28.

This is a sure and certain principle—there are predictable consequences to our actions, physically and spiritually.

So why does humanity so easily forget this inevitable truth? Because under the sway of Satan, we have learned to postpone some of the bad consequences, and Satan has used his enormous powers of deception to make the bad look good and the good, bad. He tricks us into thinking there are shortcuts—that we can escape the consequences.

But God wants us to take the long view—to see through the deception to the ultimate reality. He gives us His laws and Bible prophecy so we can see what will cause suffering and what will cause real joy and happiness. Choose life!

Read more about cause and effect in our article “Why Is Our Modern World Under Ancient Curses?” For more about the purposes of Bible prophecy, see “Purpose of Prophecy.”    From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/cause-and-effect-in-prophecy/?

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Red Meat, TMAO, And Your Heart.  By Harvard Health.

 

”A substance called trimethylamine N-oxide, which is produced when your body digests red meat, may raise the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Experts used to think that red meat raised your risk of heart disease simply because it was high in saturated fat. But today that picture has gotten more complicated thanks to the discovery of a metabolite — a substance produced during digestion and metabolism — called trimethylamine N-oxide, or TMAO.

According to a news article published June 11 in JAMA, three recent analyses have linked high blood levels of TMAO with a higher risk for both cardiovascular disease and early death from any cause.

In one of those studies, researchers found that people with higher levels of TMAO in their blood may have more than twice the risk of heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular problems, compared with people who have lower levels.

Other studies have found links between high TMAO levels and heart failure and chronic kidney disease.”      From: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/red-meat-tmao-and-your-heart

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