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Uncle Ben's (Almost Daily) WRITE 487 - 2008 03 29 South Wartzor Peace,
Stockholm 2008, Photo © Benjamin Antell There are still people out there in total darkness, concerning the things of God. Som even believe that Jesus was never mentioned in history as a true person. Unbeliavable, but that's how little people know. I've written about it before in 2006. Jesus was often mentioned by historians. This is what I wrote on May 2006: Jesus is mentioned in many historic works. Here are a few examples. LETTER OF MARA BAR-SERAPION in AD73. He wrote: "For what advantage did the Jews gain by the death of their wise king?" An early non-Christian writing mentioning Jesus, is the history of the Jewish people by FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS (Born AD 37), a Jewish writer who worked in the court of the Roman Emperor. Born in Jerusalem he was around the time that Jesus was killed, and published he did his great work in AD93. The Roman historian, CORNELIUS TACITUS (Born Around AD 52), around the year 110 also mentions Jesus in his writings.
Gamla Stan Stockholm, 2008 Photo © Benjamin Antell A few more: LUCIAN OF SAMOSATA There are many more non Christian historians here: http://www.apologeticscourses.com/TextBooks/JesusAndHistory I have read of more works about Christ, but these are the ones I happen to remember right off the cuff. 0000000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO000000 Uncle Ben's (Almost Daily) WRITE 487 - 2008 03 28 South Wartzor Peace,
Mat 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Mar 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,*drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Luk 10:9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'
Below is my second write today. A Finnish blogger was just condemned for refering to a group of people as "animals". How come the Koran can be sold/distributed freely even though it calls the Jewish people apes and swine? It's in Sura 5:65. Here's some hate propaganda from followers of Islam:
The poor little little girl Basmallah is brainwashed into hating the Jews and the makers of Pepsi!?! She is only 3,5 years old. Video is taken down. The "god" Islam talks about is the moongod Allah, not the Creator. Here's an arab doctor in 2008 declaring that the Jews are decen-dants of monkeys and swine...(the video is taken down)
Christians love all people, even the Moslem, we are required to do so by God (JHVH). All followers of Islam are through the Qur'an encouraged to kill all who want to leave Islam, for any reason. How sad is that?, many cling to Islam out of fear of being murdered! Many are even murdered by their own family. Whatever you do, don't let the devil get you, Uncle Ben 0000000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO000000 Uncle Ben's (Almost Daily) WRITE 486 - 2008 03 27 South Wartzor Peace,
Gamla Stan, Stockholm © Benjamin Antell I'm back. Stockholm was the same beautiful place it always has been. The people were kind and cheerful. In Kvevlax on my way to town I was sadly reminded of the fact that life can end at any time. 5 cars crashed today...
0000000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO000000 Uncle Ben's (Almost Daily) WRITE 485 - 2008 03 19 South Wartzor Peace, I'm going abroad for a week March 19-26. I probably won't write during this time. I'll be going to Stockholm, my fav city in the world. I lived there once for five years and it feels like home to me. I especially like the Old Town and surroundings, where I once worked. The Swede's are easy going in general, I've missed Stockholm a lot since I left for pastures green. The friends I made in Stockholm seem to be friends for life, many of them have come over to see me here in the boonies. I've had lot's of people over, fans. producers, actors, musicians, painters, globetrotters, composers etc. The one thing we seem to have in common is that we are creative and peaceful, at least as long as or nerves are intact :-) None of my friends are racist and I don't want friends who are.
Longfellow © Antell Archives A friend of mine in Brazil once found an eight meter long Anaconda skeleton out in the wild. The snakes that I saw in Australia were only about 2-3 meters long (the biggies). The ones that I had in my tent were only about 60-70 cm's. About the same sizes as snakes in Finland. For some reason there are lots of snakes in South Wartzor. The only snake that ever tried to bite me was a Finnish one, weird innit? I did meet a fairly long brown snake once, it was about 3-4 meters long Down Under. We stood and looked at each other for a while, the snake was not in a defense position. When I turned my head for a second it was gone with the wind. Man it was fast. It looked a lot like a Taipan, but I really don't know what kind it was. It was too long for me to pick up since I was only about 12 at the time.
Photo © Don Martin Antell I can only thank God that He watched over me while we lived Down Under because I was constantly doing foolish things. Collecting snakes, scorpions, spiders, building zip guns, canons, diving in murky dams and jumping off buildings for fun. Since nobody had told me as a child, that I could actually talk to God at any time, I hardly ever tried. What a bummer! I didn't even know that the Holy Spirit existed, now I couldn't make it through the day without Him. Some say that we have to be a certain age before we come to Christ, that's a load of cobblers. "The earlier the better", I say. I wish that I had known the Lord as a child, how much fun that would have been! I guess I'll have to settle for "better late than never", since "coulda, woulda, shoulda" never got anybody anywhere. 0000000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO000000 Uncle Ben's (Almost Daily) WRITE 484 - 2008 03 17 South Wartzor Peace, Finland seems to be a pretty safe country to live in. We don't have excessive amounts of guns all over the place, However Finland is still the only country where I've been robbed, once at knife point in Helsinki outside the train station, another time by some Gypsies outside the same station.
Another time I was slightly beat up and robbed on the church steps of the "Domkyrkan" (above) in Helsinki, and a few times in Vasa by gangs. People in Helsinki around me pretended like it was raining, nobody came to my rescue. I wasn't a Christian in those days. To be fair I must mention that I was shot once in Australia and also threatened with a blade in LA by a drug addict. I guess there are wonderful people all over the Globe. Even though I know that I can die at any time, I still feel a lot safer now that I'm in God's hands, because He has things for me to do, and I know that my time will not come before I'm finished. I'm not afraid of kicking the bucket, since only my shell will die. I know where I'm going the second that I die, and I know it's going to be all fun after the "crossing".
Two fine black fellows and my pink dad in Bingera © The Antell Archives. I saw a documentary about Australian Aborigines yesterday. I love them, and I think it's a shame how they waste their time with the spirits. The spirits that they sometimes even fear, are just a bunch of losers (fallen angels). If the Aborigines would receive Christ into their lives they would experience love without fear, because perfect love casts out all fear. Then they would also understand to praise the Creator instead of the creation and be happy. They could even tell the spirits to bugger off, in Jesus name. Great authority in the spirit world, comes with salvation. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 0000000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO000000 Uncle Ben's (Almost Daily) WRITE 483 - 2008 03 14 South Wartzor Peace, A Lynx ate my chicken Agda the other day. I followed the trail which ended by a tree, a bit into the forest. The only clue Agda managed to leave behind was a few feathers. The Lynx came and got Agda in broad daylight around noon.
Lynx tracks in the snow. It's the same with sin, the tracks are always there. Luckily Jesus can smother them out. Here comes a story I got from my friend Michelle in Oklahoma: The Room... In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read 'Girls I have liked.' I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named 'Friends' was next to one marked 'Friends I have betrayed.' The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird 'Books I Have Read,' 'Lies I Have Told,' 'Comfort I have Given,' 'Jokes I Have Laughed at .' Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: 'Things I've yelled at my brothers.' Others I couldn't laugh at: 'Things I Have Done in My Anger', 'Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.' I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature. When I pulled out the file marked 'TV Shows I have watched', I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented. When I came to a file marked 'Lustful Thoughts,' I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content.. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!' In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I And then I saw it.. The title bore 'People I Have Shared the Gospel With.' The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here.. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me. Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. 'No!' I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was 'No, no,' as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, 'It is finished.' I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written. Michelle 0000000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO000000 Uncle Ben's (Almost Daily) WRITE 482 - 2008 03 13 South Wartzor Peace,
During my morning prayer I noticed the fruit bowl on the table. It was filled with different fruits, and I realized that we are just as different as all the different fruits, still they get along in the same bowl. All of the fruits taste and even feel different. Some fruits even make others "mature" faster, since they react with each other, just like people do. In church, the older help the young by sharing their lives. This way those who are "new born" Christians will grow faster, since they won't necessarily have to make all the same mistakes that the older ones have made. Naturally, only those who are willing to listen will grow. Those who are proud and refuse to listen will grow in slo-mo.
The Holy Spirit often points at my sins, so that I can ask forgiveness for them and move on. He does this out of love, and I know it. I have asked God to point all my sins out, because I don't want any rubbish in my life. I just want to live for the Lord. I'm still surprised how forgiving and full of love the Lord is. Why does He love us so much, I don't get it. 0000000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO000000 Uncle Ben's (Almost Daily) WRITE 480 - 2008 03 07 South Wartzor Peace,
Some women hate the apostle Paul purely out of ignorance! They believe that he was against them, because they have misunderstood a lot of what he said. When Paul said in 1 Corinthians that "the wives must be silent in the congregation", he was only addressing the churches of Corinth and Ephesus. These churches were the homes of the fertility goddesses Diana and Artemis, where women dominated and temple prostitution was approved! When you look at what was said in this perspective, you will notice that Paul had nothing against female teachers. Furthermore Paul says in Galatians 3:28 "For there...is not one male or female. For you are all one in Messiah Jesus". So girls, knock yourself out. 0000000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO000000 Uncle Ben's (Almost Daily) WRITE 479 - 2008 03 05 South Wartzor Peace, My computer died the day before yesterday, it was a vintage G4.
Here's another vintage thingy, we found in the boonies, in Queensland. A Morris Oxford Bull nose from 1922. We took it with us to Finland. It's been hectic, with all the helter skelter of modern life. I read in Isaiah today. Isaiah talks about healing in chapter 53:3-5. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of "sorrows" (this is a word for "Pain"), and acquainted with "grief" (the Hebrew word for grief is "sickness"): and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Acording to my brother Bayless Conley, The word for "grief" is in Hebrew translated as "sickness" 13 times in the Old Testament and as "disease" 6 times, it is only translated as "grief" 4 times. (answersbc.org) In other words, Jesus bore our sicknesses and our pain in our place! We are so mixed up due to the law's of nature (as we call them) and pure logic, that we often forget that God isn't bound by these. He can do whatever He wants as long as we have mustard seed faith. A Mustard seed is very small, and grows into a huge tree. We should nurture the little faith we have so that it may grow, instead of shrink, as the devil's advocates remind us of the World's logic.
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