5 things that keep you from settling down

 

Disney movies bring us romantic tales of glass slippers and coma-reviving kisses. Hollywood shows us we’ll be so overwhelmed we won’t be able to resist it. Our friends say, “When it’s right, you’ll just know.” And yet, years into a relationship, many men and women haven’t a clue whether they are dating the person they should make their spouse... or just another great someone.

For many of us, falling in love — and deciding that yes, this time it’s meant to last forever — is not as easy as it seems.

It’s easy to get stuck in relationship limbo...
“I always thought I’d have this magical moment where I would meet someone and there’d be this instant clicking and we would literally be married six months later,” says Katja, a D.C.-based program manager for the Department of State while referring to her long-term boyfriend, Rob. “I never, ever thought I’d be the girl that was dating the guy for six years and going nowhere,” she admits.

It’s not that there’s a lot wrong with Rob. Quite the opposite, in fact. “He’s the person I’ve been waiting to meet forever,” Katja says. “We have tons in common; I’ve never gotten bored of him.” And yet, Katja remains seriously into her boyfriend, but maybe not enough to marry him.

So, what keeps so many seemingly smart men and women from deciding that the person they’re with is The One?

1. Your list of “must-haves” for a romantic partner is unattainable
One of the biggest sticking points for people, says counseling psychologist Dr. Linda Young, is having a long list of characteristics that are considered essential for both a partner and the relationship. This lengthy list of essentials can be self-defeating, since it’s unlikely you’ll meet anyone who meets every requirement on that list.

“People have a lot of difficulty accepting a person or a relationship that is good enough,” says Young. By good enough, Young does not mean settling. She means recognizing someone who shares your values and characteristics.

After spending all our 20s and parts of our 30s hearing, “I can have it all!” we can’t help but believe that means the whole pie, perfection à la mode, no compromising. Few potential mates, it seems, can measure up to such standards. Or, more succinctly, a lot of people have become too picky, and too picky has become the standard.

“We expect so much from ourselves at work; we expect a lot from ourselves even recreationally,” says Young. “We rank and rate everything, especially since the Internet has become the norm — and we rank partners, even — without realizing that something can be good enough without being 95 percent of what we want.”

2. You’re unwilling to compromise in relationships
Many of us don’t focus hard enough (or long enough) on what makes a relationship truly satisfying and sustainable over a lifetime. Being more forgiving of a partner’s faults or more flexible about another person’s annoying habits may be difficult, but the ability to compromise matters. Instead, many of us are looking to wherever the grass appears to be greener.

Love, it seems, has torn a page out of the economics textbook. It’s a classic case of maximizers versus satisfiers. Maximizers are always looking for the newest and best thing available. If, one thinks, I stop looking for the best possible option, if I accept this person’s flaws, I won’t have the best partner I could possibly have.

Those are the people who might have trouble committing to anything, says Young, “whether it’s a house, a stereo or a person, because they are constantly looking for ways to tweak it — to make it better.”

On the other hand, the satisfier is someone who recognizes the things that make something — or someone — great, and doesn’t keep looking for something bigger or better.

3. You’re afraid of intimacy
The other challenge for many may be in letting another person in. After spending much of our 20s and early 30s building a career, honoring the idea that it’s important to be successful and dating with the knowledge that most relationships will end, we build up a defense mechanism. When we finally decide we do want to settle down, we have to take down the walls we’ve built up. “One of the ways we protect ourselves is to learn how to not go all in, and then when you want to get married you have to figure out how to go all in,” says Young.

Take, for example, Katja and Rob. Both are incredibly independent people, Katja most of all. That love of independence might be hindering their progression as a couple. “It gets in the way of my relationships sometimes,” Katja says, a twinge of regret cutting through her laugh.

And all that independence can lead to some serious indecision, which is something Laurel from Seattle, WA, knows a thing or two about. Seven years into her relationship, she wondered if her boyfriend was husband material. So, how did Laurel decide that he was The One?

“I spent some time imagining my life without him,” says Laurel, “and I didn’t like it one bit.” Now, eight years into her marriage, the 42-year-old and her husband are trying for a second child.

Deciding you’d rather be with someone than without is a good, realistic place to start. It’s also important to figure out what the few, really critical criteria are in choosing a potential mate — such as religion or a shared culture. In the end, it’s values that matter, not attributes.

4. You pick partners that share your interests, but not your values and goals
Young admits she’s fascinated by online dating profiles, where many people list “important traits” that are actually things they themselves prefer to do: “Must like hiking. Must enjoy ska music. Must love long walks on the beach at sunset.” Young points out that “those things are not very important when it comes down to a long-term, satisfying relationship. The really important stuff is how your basic character traits and personality features complement each other, and where you are similar on the things that matter most to you. You really need to know what your values are before you can know if someone else shares them.”

Shared fundamental values — from the way you express affection, to religion, to how you handle responsibility or are accountable to others — are the most important criteria.

People tend to discount how much these values matter, argues Young. Daters say that honesty is important, but then other things they want — not value, but want — get in the way of making good decisions. If you’re single and you find someone charming, confident and successful, then suddenly the characteristics that make a relationship work come in a distant second.

And, she says, don’t dismiss physical chemistry if you’re looking for the Americanized version of love, which includes a lifetime of romance. Yes, physical attraction can grow over time, but if you have none to begin with it’s not going to manifest itself over time. You can’t construct something out of nothing.

5. You believe there’s only one soul mate out there waiting for you
“I think some people still have this fantasy notion that there’s going to be just one Mr. or Ms. Right. So when they have someone they’ve been with who displays many of these characteristics and they get along just fine together, these daters still think, ‘well, it doesn’t feel magical, like having a soul mate is supposed to feel’,” says Young. “It’s not always going to feel that way.”

But, she argues, by taking a good look at your own place in the world and your values, you can recognize whether you’re dating the person you’re going to stay with long-term — or simply dating around.

Julie H. Case is a freelance writer based in Seattle. Her work has appeared in magazines such as Sunset, Alaska Airlines Magazine and Wired.

Women in Christ's Genealogy (1)

Women in Christ's Genealogy

Matthew included five women in his genealogy of Christ. This is notable since it was not customary for Jews to include women in their records.
   Even more remarkable is the fact that Matthew included some women who had disreputable histories. The five women included were: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.

Tamar: Genesis 38:6-30
Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah. She was a childless widow, who was given to her brother-in-law after her husband's death. By this marriage her offspring would continue the name and inheritance of the deceased. Such a union was later called a Leverite marriage (Deut 25:5-6).
   Unfortunately, Tamar's brother-in-law refused to have proper intercourse with her. God killed him for this. Afterwards, Judah would not give Tamar to any of his other sons. So Tamar disguised herself as a harlot and seduced Judah. (My notes: Tamar had relations with her father in law illegally/immorally as a prostitute). Through him, she became the mother of Perez.

Rahab: Joshua 2:1-24
Rahab was a harlot who lived in Jericho. (My Notes: She was a town prostitute). She hid the spies of Joshua. Because of this, the Israelites spared her life when they conquered Jericho. She later became the wife of Salmon, and the mother of Boaz. Rahab's faith was later commended (Heb 11:30-31).

Ruth: Ruth 1:1-4:22
Ruth was a foreigner from the land of Moab. (My Notes: the Moabites were the offspring of Lot, nephew of Abraham, via drunken incest >>>see:Genesis 19:35-37 (New King James Version) ³⁵ Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. ³⁶ Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. ³⁷ The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day.) She was the widow of a Jew. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, also lived in Moab. Naomi journeyed to Israel after her family died. Ruth's devotion was extraordinary. She left her own country to follow Naomi. While in Israel, Ruth was married to Boaz, one of Naomi's relatives. Ruth later became the mother of Obed, the grandfather of David the King.

Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 11:1-27

Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, who was a soldier in the army of King David. She and David had an adulterous affair. (My Notes: was Bethsheba a Hebrew or a Hittite?)   When David discovered Bathsheba was pregnant, he tried to cover it up by summoning Uriah home from war, hoping that Uriah would have intercourse with his wife. Uriah came home to Jerusalem, but refused to lay with Bathsheba as long as the armies of Israel were at war.
   So, David sent Uriah back into battle, with orders that Uriah should be withdrawn from when the fighting became fierce. After Uriah was slain in this manner, David took Bathsheba as his own wife. God punished them for this by killing their first child.
   Bathsheba later became the mother of Solomon.

Mary: Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-56
Mary was the mother of Jesus and the wife of Joseph. She was a virgin when Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
   Joseph was betrothed to Mary when he discovered she was pregnant. He intended to put her away secretly because this was shameful. However, an angel told Joseph what had happened. So Joseph took Mary as his wife, and kept her as a virgin until she gave birth to Jesus.
   During her pregnancy Mary spent time with her relative Elizabeth, who was the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:39-56). Mary was not a perpetual virgin, as she later became the mother of other sons and daughters (Matthew 13:55-56).
   Mary was a widow at the time of Jesus' death. While on the cross, Jesus committed her to the care of John, his Apostle (John 19:25-27).

Source: LifeofJesus.com

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So, we clearly see that God has been choosing the outcasts of society for great things in His Kingdom purpose. Do not look down upon yourself because of bad choices you have made. God knew you from Genensis 1:1. He is not looking at your shortcomings, rather He is looking at your potential and He seeks not your surrender. He is not at war with you and you are not at war with Him---unless you are simply being rebrobate. We all come from to God from somewhere wicked. God seeks your dedication to Him via Scripture and Covenant walk with Him. This you can do without the acclimation of a Church , Preist, Rabbi, Pastor or any human being because Christ died to reconcile your Father back to you.

Get in step with what your Creator has already said---he will choose the broken and downtrodden to build them up and make a mighty testimony of your life to show others that there are no impossibilities in God/Christ/ The Spirit of God. Disregard what the "Righteous" may be saying to you. "If God be for you who can be against you?" Romans 8

Be blessed.

What The Church is Not Telling You (1)

The Curse of JehoiakimAn unusual curse in Jeremiah 36:1-32 gives new insight into the virgin birth of Jesus.
The CurseJehoiakim was a king of Israel. He angered God by burning a scroll that Jeremiah the prophet wrote. God cursed Jehoiakim by indicating that none of his children would sit on the throne of David (Jeremiah 36:29-31). And although Jehoiakim had children, scripture shows that none of them ever reigned as King David had.
The ProblemJoseph, the father of Jesus, was one of Jehoiakim's descendants (through Jeconiah). Joseph's offspring could not claim David's throne because of the curse. Jesus laid claim to the throne of David (Luke 1:32, Acts 2:30, Hebrews 12:2). If Jesus had been born of Joseph, the curse would have been contradicted.
   Also, God had promised David that one of his physical descendants would reign on the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). As explained above, Joseph was excluded from being the genetic father of the future king of Israel.
   It was impossible to fulfill the requirements of both curse and promise by natural means. One man had to be both heir to and offspring of David, without being the genetic descendant of Jehoiakim. This problem required a divine solution.
The SolutionGod created a solution through the miracle of the virgin birth. Although Joseph was one of Jehoiakim's offspring (through Solomon), Mary was not. She was a descendant of Nathan, one of David's other sons (Luke 3:31). God's promise to David was fulfilled because Mary was the biological parent of Jesus.
   The virgin birth also addressed the curse God had pronounced upon Jehoiakim. Kingship was an inherited right. By Joseph, Jesus inherited a legal claim to the throne of David. However, he was exempt from the curse of Jehoiakim because Joseph was not his genetic father.
   So the miracle of the virgin birth accomplished God's will in two ways. First, it granted Jesus a legal claim to the throne of David. And second, it maintained th eintegrity of the curse God had pronounced upon Jehoiakim. Indeed, Jesus was not one of Jehoiakim's offspring.

Source: LifeofChrist.com 

Is the Black Church Keeping Women Single? (Copyright 2011)

This man's answer to this question is "No."  There are a wide variety of reasons to this 'phenomena' but the Church is not making a conscious effort to keep people single. Here are a few thoughts to consider: 

(1) by the time some women decide to get focused on "getting it together" via Biblical Power Point Principles: they already have a number of children and are not married. This presents a situation of financial responsibility that many men are not prepared to get involved with because of custody issues and the fathers of children creating "hassles" within these types of relationships. This is not the fault of men rather a consequence of the choices and decisions of the women having been in relationships that created the children without getting married first. A divorced woman demonstrates a diferent social parameter than an unmarried mother. This is just the reality of our social construct.

It is unreasonable to expect the average man who is focused on a future to not weigh into the calculations of the validity of a relationship - the effects of the presence of these children will have. Another byproduct of "premarital" children is the money to raise the children of another man or men and the impact of children not accepting a "new" man into their Mother's life and their life.

(2)The presence of Black men "on the Down low". Need I say more? This is an issue that really does need to be addressed from the Pulpit, in Bible Study and within the Church in general; not from a position of animosity or hatred. This must be addressed from "what does Scripture say about this behavior". For too long, the Church has been a place of accepting any type of behavior as okay with God so long as it is accepted by the ambient social order. The Church is a place of change---our changing into God's reality of His children; not our telling God to accept us as we choose to be.

If a man desires to walk with God...he must make the relevant changes and it is entirely irresponsible for somebody that is still interested in same sex arrangements to get involved with a woman (or a man if we are referencing a Lesbian/Bisexal individual). Remember, I am speaking here as a Man of God and Scripture clearly takes a dim view of same sex arrangments. Whatever a person chooses is between them and God, however to get into relationship with somebody and not be honest about your sexual behavior is simply uncouth and boorish. And the Church is about God not what is currently socially acceptable. You cannot ask God to put a stamp of approval upon behavior that is deemed as sinful by Scripture.

 

(3)The attitude of Black women to want to be the leader in a family...although the Bible clearly teaches that "as Christ is head of the Church man is head of the House". Our Women have a propensity to fear "submission " to a man as leader of the home. They pledge loyalty to Jesus but not loyalty to a Husband. People in general ( male and female) come to Church but keep their old attitudes and personalities----the Bible teaches that to get your life you must lose it....Blind Bartemeaus threw off the old man to receive the new man. Being the Proverbs 31 woman is more than going to Church, screaming Jesus and quoting Scripture. It is a lifestyle from inside out, a dsciplined woman from her mouth to her behavior. I was recently at a funeral for a mean,, aggrivating absolutely disgusting person of a female and speaker after speaker described her as a Proverbs 31 woman. We must get real with ourselves so that we can be real with God and with our Mates. Any man worth his salt is not getting involved with games, drama and confusion. Tighten up so God can set you up and establish you. Most come to churches as new Members having endured life crushing events and the last thing they are seeking is more drama.

(4) The failure of Churches and /or Civic organisations to teach Family leadership skills to Black men AND the failure of Black men to take advantage of what training there is. If the selection of the variety of what men do come to a particular Church is "sub standard" there is no fault of a woman to decide to remain single...she can do bad all by herself. Why take on a man who is not focused?

(5) I believe that there are women willing to submit as the Bible teaches however the man must present a lifestyle, leadership qualities and determination of direction that she can submit to. In other words; men must be willing to make the required spiritual, personal and educational alterations to "step their game up" to a higher level of proficiency to demonstrate leadership in their own life. This then can give a serious female something to "work with" even if  the man is not of the same education or social background/breeding/education.

Men must bring more than good looks and sex to the table. Men must remember that a career woman, for example has her professional life that must be upheld and enhanced by the entry of her chosen mate. She must at least ---"marry even" if she is not "marrying up".

A woman must bring more to the table than sex and cooking.  After all, if you are bringing in children...to a focussed career oriented man---that is already somewhat of a problem that you are asking him to accept and assist you with.

 

(6) On the matter of teaching men to be Men of God & women to be Women of God---generally Black Churches are not interested in this type of training because Churches are more time than not "Clubs" not Training Centers for self improvement for men and women to learn how to be submissive to each other as they both are submissive to God. This is not always the fault of the Church because it is very coomon that members really desire to be left alone. "I got this" is the mindset and if serious sermons and classes are instituted many people flee to another location where their sensibilities can remain dormant and undisturbed. At other times, Churches seem to be more interested in "Feel Good" Sermons and getting people excited but not teaching about the discipline of God's Word and His Covenants....and vice verse: people want "Feel Good" sermons because when Pastors get to hard core teaching of principles...many people leave to go elsewhere as I have already mentioned.

 

(7) Issues of economics: many women are in debt and see a man as a source of income to further their lifestyles. Consequently..because many men come into the Church in some state of recovery (as the women are; by the way)...the women don't desire to select these men even though there is "quality of character" but not immediate financial benefit. This leads them (women) to desire men who are financially sound NOW but these men don't desire 2-3-or more children immediate upon marriage. The mindset of Women must change to recognize that quality men may not have finances now but in time they will....In other words choose quality over immediate possessions and achievements. When they see these men later in life and the man has achieved...THEN they desire to be with him but he is now (perhaps) with somebody else...

Many men have a dream or vision of a future reality they aspire to acheive and if the woman is about stuff now and not saving and investing for tomorrow then her economics are not compatible with a good man of vision, stability and fortune. There are many men that have battled out of poverty into wealth and that does not happen overnight and definitely won't happen if he is with a "high maintenance" female.

(8) Women with degrees and careers must overcome the psychology of "Marrying Down". Look at university enrollments...mostly women. Black men get caught up in whatever and many recover and go on to achieve great things..."marrying down" now to a man of character who is now focused and determined can lead to a man that achieves education and careers that makes them worthy. For example: today's Plumber is tomorrow's successful Plumbing Contractor. White Collar Women seem to have a problem with marrying Blue Collar Career Men.

(9) Most women see history and not potential. Men get caught up in problems and then get it together (1 in 6 has been to Jail/Prison...Drugs etc)...but many women focus on a man's past and "what are the people going to say about it" rather than how this man is strong enough to get it together and get back in the game and make a serious run at success and character and responsibility.

 

(10) Women choose to get involved with some man rather than ask God what is His choice for her....then accept His choice and work it for success.

 

(11) Stop sleeping with a man before you are married, if you won't wait why should he? I hear of so many disappointed women and a recurring theme is how long she cohabitated and never got married  and now there are children. Stop the babies and the pemarital sex. Okay, at least stop the babies. There is too much science out there for any woman to get pregnant. Birth control has been around for almost 50 years. Don't blame the man...you agreed to open your legs and do it...again and again and agin in many situations. You are responsible for your choices and the consequences. Nobody "Pops up pregnant". You agree to have sex and no birth control and with AIDS killing Black women faster than accidents, cancer, diabetes or heart attacks---why would you let any man be with you without condoms anyway?

(12) No sex, no babies and you are establishing very clearly that you are what you say you are: a Woman of God. If a man won't wait then clearly he was not the man for you. It is your Kingdom duty to remain in Covenant with God for Him to continue to establish you and keep you. Compromise about education and other factors in a relationship but never Kingdom principles. Any true man of God will wait to be married to you because that man is walking with God and is in Covenant with God. He is to be the spiritual head after marriage and if he cannot wait he is not being the spiritual head prior to marriage. However, women don't wait and so their are consequences...

(13) Stop waiting for some Bloke dripping with the Holy Spirit like honey. Ask God about everything including "Is this the man you have selected for me". He may not be dripping today....but next week......next year? Ask God about everything and He will answer. Then be obedient.

(14) Drop the baggage...especially forgive yourself. Women (and to some degree men) bring a lot of emotional baggage into new relationships. More about this in another entry. Stop hating men...because the man to be your husband is a man and you will automatically hate him. Change your associations If all you hang with are haters and you will hate.

(15) Learn from succesful marriages--even if the Wife is a Stripper. Hey, God spoke to Balaam using a Mule---so stop being spiritually proud. If a woman has a successful marriage she can teach you some stuff and maybe by your huminilty you can teach her some stuff about God..in exchange. Give it some thought. Oh, and I am in no way calling anybody an animal. So please, don't take my illustration out of context....:-). Nobody was more into the world than I was..and God is still working upon me. So, I am in no way casting judgement upon anybody. Let me dispell that notion

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We blame everybody and everything for our choices and the consequences...don't blame anybody unless you are part of the solution. Take rsponsibility for the consequences of the chuces and decisions that you have made. Forgive yourself and others that have hurt you. Move on.

Are there problems in the Churches---of course, however the Church is not holding anybody down....we make choices.

It is our choices that hold us down or raise us up. The reasons go on and on... It is not the Church...it is essentially the mindset of the people. As individuals we must get into Covenant with God and then walk the path that He has for us. 

We choose our own paths, make choices and decisions ---THEN we call on God to make it work or straighten it out. He says "If you will hearken to His voice and walk according to His ways" Deut 28 and "Those that are led by the Spirit are the children of God" Romans 8. We have the arrangement backwards and confused. That is not the fault of the Church but rather a consequence of the culmination of the sequence of choices we make according to our own mindset and it is written "Lean not on your own understanding. But in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path" Book of Proverbs. Whoever blames the Church they need to get real, wake up and smell the coffee!

Be blessed; 

Rev. Richard Johnson, B.Sc.

(Copyright 2011)

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On the dismantling of your unconscious ‘personal mythology’ …… about God…… and yourself!

By newparadigmthinkers

Every human being, including Christians and unbelievers alike, are to a greater or lesser degree unconsciously trapped in a ‘personal mythology’ regarding God and themselves!

Myths are imaginary and unproved collective ideas, beliefs and fictitious stories, based on legends and tradition. These mostly untested concepts are invented to justify ourselves, and designed to explain and give meaning to the mysterious dimensions of life.
Most our ‘personal mythology’ consists of a mixed ‘fruit salad’ consisting of a intermingling and blending together into one mass of various ingredient

Who am I?

These consists of fear filled superstitions, fables, erroneous beliefs, personal subjective experience, cultural influence, denominational conjecture and religious dogma based on the Bible and the opinions of men etc. etc.
For instance, for most of us our inherited opinion is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had to come Adam’s world, into the mess Adam made, and attempt to build a faith bridge back to God!  A bridge we have to somehow find during our lifetime and successfully cross, or alternatively God will dump us into ‘hell’, to be tormented eternally!
The eternal fact is that Adam came into Christ’s world!
The eternal fact is that we were saved in Christ even before we fell in Adam!
Untwisting and unravelling our familiar and deeply held, and cherished misconceptions, in order to dig through to the bedrock of ‘truth’ or ‘reality’, that actually came through Jesus Christ is not easy and often most painful.
Yet, not unlike a Tiger caught in a fatal trap, we sometimes have to chew off our own leg, in order to rescue our very existence from life’s traps!
A good place to commence in exposing our ‘personal mythology’ is to get a clear perspective on and to begin to recognise the distinction between ‘Objective’ and ‘Subjective’ spiritual realities.
The following audio teaching’s could prove helpful.
‘The Objective and Subjective Spiritually Reality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!’
http://www2.uhaveaudio.com/1291244607_32/mp3/g0/ql
Then to ask the question; “Who is Jesus Christ”, and what did the Triune God accomplished through Jesus for and on behalf mankind, and therefore of you personally”
‘Jesus Christ, the Master Key to unlocking the Mystery of the Bible.’
http://www2.uhaveaudio.com/1291234889_32/mp3/g0/ql
http://www2.uhaveaudio.com/1291927708_32/mp3/g0/ql
http://www2.uhaveaudio.com/1291931261_32/mp3/g0/ql
To ask and answer the vital question, “Who is God?”
‘The Mythology of God in the Mind of the Believer – Re-discovering the Heart of the Father’
http://www2.uhaveaudio.com/1291858093_32/mp3/g0/ql

About newparadigmthinkers

Pastor Andre Oosthuizen of South Africa 

” Transforming our Vision to the Apostolic Understanding of the Cosmic Nature and Universal Lordship of Jesus the Christ, and the Inclusion and Infusion of Humanity into the Love and Life of the Trinity by Challenging Redundant and Stagnant Traditional Religious Mindsets and Spiritual Blind Spots.”

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The above Information was written by Pastor Andre. The fact is that we are already contaminated with ideas and concepts that derive from family, friends church, ethnic and gender, nationality and so forth. The Kingdom of God is a diametrically oppossed sytem of thinking and operational construct from what we are used to working through. This is one reason for the "confusion" that ppl experince in the spiritual walk. You are attempting to walk a spiritual road with an earthly mindset. They are incongruent and so Most Folks attempt to wrap the Bible around their life instead of their life around the Bible.
   Rev. Richard Johnson, B.Sc.; Be blessed.

Christian Church in Ethiopia: Part One

The Introduction of the Christian Gospel to Ethiopia
33 - 350 A.D.

Christianity's earliest contact with Ethiopia dates back to Apostolic times and is heralded in the New Testament with the Baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch by the Disciple Philip (Acts 8:25-40). It is reasonable to believe that Queen Candace herself, like the Eunuch, was a true believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; such is based on the fact that she had allowed her ‘chief financial minister' to go to Jerusalem for the Passover. That upon his return, the Eunuch shared with the Queen and others of the Royal House holds the news that God had fulfilled the promise of the Messiah, in the person of Jesus Christ. This much, can be considered a certainty and fits into the oral tradition of the Ethiopian people.

Ethiopians may also have been present in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost, although there is no direct mention of Ethiopians in the Acts of the Apostles. St. John Chrysostom, in his Epiphany Homily, expressly mentions and maintains that Ethiopians were among those present at Pentecost when he writes that "the Ethiopians also understood."

Furthermore, holy tradition holds that the Apostle Saint Matthew preached the Good News of the Gospel in Ethiopia and Baptized the Ethiopian King, Aeglippos.

 Credence to this tradition is found in that Christianity was received in Ethiopia prior to the common given fourth century date as told by a passage from Origen who wrote: "The Holy Gospel is not said to have been preached to all the Ethiopians, especially to such as live beyond the river..." suggesting that the Good News of the Gospel did in fact reach Ethiopia long before the fourth century, though from Origen we note that not all, but some of Ethiopia had heard the Gospel.

During the Fourth Century however, Orthodox Christianity was expanded and officially established as Ethiopia's State Religion. Beginning in the Royal Court, the Christian faith gradually penetrated among the lives of the common people, where is played an integral role in all aspects of national life.

The "birth" of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church took place at a time when the Arian heresy was at its peak. Ethiopia's first Bishop, Abba Frumentius, was Consecrated to the Episcopate by the Patriarch of Alexandria, St. Athanasius, known as the "Column of Orthodoxy," who was a strong defender of the Nicene faith against Arianism.

The first Ecumenical Council held in 325 A.D. which condemned Arius as a heretic served to strengthen and define Ethiopian Orthodoxy. For this reason, St. Athanasius is highly venerated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. One of its Fourteen Eucharistic Prayers is attributed to St. Athanasius, another to the 318 Fathers of Nicaea. Thus, under the influence of Bishop Frumentius, St. Athanasius, and the 318 Fathers of the Council of Nicaea, Orthodox Christianity flourished in Ethiopia in what is considered to have been the country's wide-ranging Evangelization.

Source:            http://www.ninesaintsethiopianorthodoxmonastery.org/

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My Father & Mother worked for the Ethiopian Government under Emperor Haile Selassie from 1950-1953. As a Lad, I therefore grew up hearing wonderful stories of this East African Country, it's government and people. I have a copy of their contract in my possesion as well as many manuscrpits, paintings and sculptures from that Country and that era.

Ethiopia was in fact an Empire that encompassed quite a bit of the Eastern side of the African Continent  and parts of Saudi Arabia...at one point. It was located south of Egypt and Israel. For example, "the Queen of Sheba" was in fact the Queen of the Ethiopian Empire. It was she that visited King Solomon and returned to her capital city carrying his child....the first of a continuous genealogical bloodline from King David unbroken to Emperor Haile Selassie. Emperor Selassie was a blood cousin to Jesus Christ the Messiah. He was assinated in 1975 during a Military Coup de Dat. I was matriculating for my Bachelors Degree in Kingston, Jamaica at the time of his overthrow and death. Ethiopia is mentioned 37 times in Scripture from Book of Numbers to Book of Acts. Moses was married to an Ethiopian (Numbers 12:1)

This modern day Country was never colonized by the European Powers...ever. It was briefly occupied by the Italians during World War Two. The ancient manuscripts that were later translated as "The Book of Enoch" were located in this Country during the 1800's preserved meticulously by Ethiopian Church Monks. We are studying these texts at this moment.

The Ark of the Covenant is rumored to be there to this day guarded by Monks in a very secluded location. There are ancient Church Buildings in this country built below ground in such a fashion as to prevent attack from vandals or military forces.

Rev. Richard Johnson

"You Love Me & I will Love You!"

Women want to be happy just like men. They just have different ways of expressing it. Men, learn the language of women, listen when you want to speak, hug instead of walking away, tell the truth until it hurts, be a man she can depend upon and love her like you love yourself.

You will no longer ask what women want; they will be asking you what you want.!!

(Author Unknown)

Are you still in a state of spiritual somnambulism! by Andre Oosthuizen on Friday, January 21, 2011 at 3:23am

Are you still in a state of spiritual somnambulism!

by Andre Oosthuizen on Friday, January 21, 2011 at 3:23am

Pastor located in South Africa.

 

We have never been 'separated' from God, as general  theology suggests!
Every human being comes in to existence with a prior existing relationship with the Trinity!
We just don't realize it!
We have a spiritual blind spot!

Where do we come from?

 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 
 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 
 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." Col 1:15- 17

Who sustains life in a separated state? Does the thing created have life in itself?

... He gives to all life, breath, and all things. Act 17:25 
 ... He is not far from each one of us;  Act 17:27
 ....for in Him we live and move and have our being Act 17:28

We just don't know, or have any real prior awareness of this spiritual reality until we discover Jesus Christ!

When I saw this truth in the Scripture,  it was for me like a big spiritual weight that rolled of my shoulders! We have always been 'known' and loved by God!

Only,we were in in as  state of spiritual somnambulism!

Find my Articles here/Upcoming Radio Show.

·         "Upward Way Through the Grace of God"    Information and update: Vol 2 Number One available;
Happy New Year
So what's new, well we are a couple of weeks away from the launch of The Upward Vibe Radio Station. Yes we are behind schedule, but it's in God's time not ours. I recall once being told "Men make plans to give God something to laugh at"

The Upward Vibe is not just a radio station, it's a movement. There is a web site currently under construction www.theupwardvibe.com Go take a look tell us what you think and please check back often as we continue to upgrade. There will be a magazine both online and in print. So please come join the party, we are Super Happy and it's a Christian Party!

Rev. Richard Johnson is doing big things in 2011, his Power Points of Victory, the whole series will be published as a book in the next few months. The book is currently in the pre production faze, so look out for news on the books progress. He will be taking pre orders shortly so make sure you reserve your copy. It's a life changer!

He will also be embarking on a speaking tour in support of the book and we will pass those dates on as they are available. If you would like Rev. Richard Johnson to come speak at your church or to your group. Please contact us here at CHR Media and we will pass the information along. There is also a Power Points To Victory Blog so please follow that and support Rev. Johnson. http://powerpointstovictory.blogspot.com/ (Under Construction)
Haven't spoken to Lyndsay Marie over the break, so I will update you next time as to what is new with her. Look out for Lyndsay Marie in South Fl in the near future though as we are hoping she will come and visit us here. Hopefully to pre record some shows for The Upward Vibe Radio Station.

Phew, this is getting kinda long, so as the preacher always say I'm not going to keep you much longer. Which usually means call home and tell them to turn down the stove because, you won't be home anytime soon. LoL!
Local South Fl group King were a part of the Stellar Awards celebration in Nashville, congratulations to them!
Ok I'm out of breath, but before I go shout out to Sister Morris, Happy belated birthday to you, I miss you and all the family at Grace of God. May God continue to Bless you all!

Christopher Rae
Associate Publisher

Flash Intro Page

http://www.theupwardvibe.com/

Contact The Associate Publisher about receiving weekly copies of his online magazine containg installemnts of "Power Points of Victory"

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We will be hosting a weekly program "Power Points of Victory" on internet (and soon AM) radio which will feature Studio Guests from Florida as well as live interviews of our Guests from all over the World discussing how  they have acheived and overcome via the Victory Principles contained in God's Holy Scriptures. From business to addictions, from heartbreaking tragedy to glorius victory>>> we have  a wide selection of Guests lined up for your growth and entertainment. Tune us in via Internet.....see http://www.theupwardvibe.com/ for details

We are open to everyone...from my Face Book Family to our call in Listeners; we look forward to your support and participation via chat, phone, inbox, blog, Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/PowerPointsofVictoryforSelfImprovement) or directly (www.facebook.com/richardgladiatorjohnson). Athiest to Serious Church Attender...get involved with us and let us reason together. Ask your questions, attack/defend/comment---does not matter please let me hear from you.

We are building our website www.powerpointsofvictory.com as we speak.

I am seeking contact with everyone out there...including you. This is an open invite to hit me up with your questions and comments about Church and Religion today, what's up with the Bible and how you have experienced your Christian walk. Maybe you have a bone to pick with Christianity....contact us and lets kick it around "over a cup of virtual coffee" shall we?

I am looking forward to meeting you online....be blessed.

Brother Richard.

ON THE QUESTION OF SUBMISSION: Marriage

I am personally speaking only of a Christian marriage with the Word of God as the law of authority. I will follow Gods’ plan for me, and will only marry a woman with the same discipline. Operating under God’s principles of marriage we therefore act accordingly as stated in 1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ;” and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God

AND Ephesians 5:21-25 “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

If a woman doesn’t want to submit to her husband, then you know where she stands in her submission to the word of God. She would be the wrong woman and there wouldn’t be a marriage or even dating.

And I would expect the same from a woman of God, if I wouldn’t be submitted to God, and treated her as I would treat myself, and loved her as Christ loved the church.

Submission is beautiful and powerful when husband and wife fulfill each others role as defined by God. It’s reciprocal love, pleasure and joy, that sustains the marriage during the good and the bad times. A man and woman submitted to God, and who studies and obeys the Word should know and abide to the fact that a submitted wife is not about her being a doormat or slave, but an extension to him, in which together they make their bond unbreakable and the family stabilized and flourishing against all odds on the journey to purpose and salvation.

So, as the husband is submitted to God, loves his wife as Christ loved the church, she shall submit to him as head of household. She, knowing he is obedient to God, knows he will fulfill what God expects him to bestow upon his wife. It just comes down to a man and woman submitted to God and obeying His Words for marriage.

 Or they are not for each other, and should allow God to make it happen with the right two people who will be passionate in abiding to His word on submission and marriage vows.


Author Credits; Apostle Angela Quentyne with Don Williams.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The above is from a Posting on Face Book. This is one of, if not the most poignant problem in "Christian Marriages". The lack of true submission to the operation of Covenants, Ordinances and Laws as expounded from Scripture without corruption from the local/family/cultural/ethnic/denominational constructs invading the application of God's Word in your life and therefore your marriage. It is a main cause for the high rate of divorce in "Christian Marriages".  

The solution is to work on your walk with God. Stop allowing negative, gender centric individuals in your life. Your relationship problems are not the fault of the opposite sex....you have quite a lot to do with your own problems. So, if you do not resolve what is not working according to Scripture in your spirit, mind and heart; you will continue to have issues in relationship no matter who you are with and forever until you make the required corrections.

Be blessed and do read and re-read the post above: it will positively impact your life.Send it to your Freinds and acquaintances. Post to Face Book and other Social Media. Amen and be blessed.

Rev. Richard Gladiator Johnson

"Why You Must Read Scripture for Yourself"

Scripture is vital to our walk with God. Without Scripture it is impossible to walk with God as we understand the Power of this Universe. To say that other forms of "theology" are powerless is to operate in a form of 'myopic spiritual vision' in that there are spiritual laws and precepts that are universal due to the very existance of the Spirit Realm. It is for this reason, for example, that there are Eastern Faiths and other faiths or forms of spiritualism that effect results in the Natural Realm. However, the Walk of God is the most powerful, life altering and destiny changing that I have experienced both personally and in the real time lives of others that I have been honoured to meet.

This Walk of God can only really occur via Jesus Christ...who is, in fact, Scripture. The reality is that we must study Scripture for ourselves and allow the Spirit of God to teach us and inform us---even beyond  what Church and Society says is the meaning and application of Scripture. Church is infiltrated with animosity, blindspots, national, local &  microcultural teachings and nuances that lead us off the path of unity with the God of Creation who loves you so much that He sent Himself in the form of Jesus to bring our connection to Him back to where it began in the Garden of Eden.
It is written that God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. This Group is open to all because I am not led of God to create another Company of individuals of like minded People. We must grow and to grow in Spirit we must be able to understand the teachings and experiences of others such that through them you come to understand where you are congruent in your understanding of who and what you are combined with what God is attempting to do with you. Churches limit your horizons and so also limit your destiny.

For example, Churches are now teaching : "Christians in Recovery" for those with addiction issues. I am asking all of you this question "Where in Scripture does the Word of God say that we are stuck in who we are in the beginning of this journey?"
Let me put this question another way: "Where do we see one example (Old Covenant or New Covenant) where God's Word does not completely change a man/woman into something new (not clean)?" So why is the Church teaching "recovery"? A false doctrine from the sphere of the so called sciences.

2Kings 5 - Naaman is completely cured of leprosy. 1Kings 17 into 2Kings - Elijah (Eliais) and Elisha combined have recorded 3 occasions where they brought dead people back to life among 48 miracles.

I can go on citing examples. However, brevity seems to be in order. So let me close: people are confused because of Church teaching both historical & current Church teachings and applications. History clearly teaches that it was Christians and Catholic Nations that went about "colonizing" the world (Africa, Australia, Asia, North/Central/South America) and exterminating cultures and indeed whole populations of people in the "Name of God". Nations used God to rationaize and justify "pirating away" at others---even within their own European populations ( see 30 Years and 100 Years Wars).

This is no reason to throw God away merely because there are those that use their "religion" to 'sanitize' there self centered ways. God is God and you have one opertunity to get right with Him. That oppertunity is prior to your going back to the spirit realm (dying). However, you must not waste your time procrastinating because you have been sent to do a work for the Kingdom. Now not everybody is called to be a Bishop/ArchBishop, Pastor or such. Any positive work we do is Kingdom work and I will delve into that at a later time. Many are called to be regular people ( if such a term exists in the Kingdom) that are examples for others to quietly follow, for example.


In conclusion---read the Bible and stop judging the God and His book based upon the silly application of what people have done "in the name of religion". They will have to answer for that.  You will have to give an answer for all you do and fail to do. Amen. Be blessed.

Bro Richard...... 
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Question: "Why is it important to study the Bible in context? What is wrong with taking verses out of context?"      (Source of this Question and Answer---www.gotquestion.org)

Answer:
It's important to study Bible passages and stories within their context. Taking verses out of context leads to all kinds of error and misunderstanding. Understanding context begins with four principles: literal meaning (what it says), historical setting (the events of the story, to whom is it addressed, and how it was understood at that time), grammar (the immediate sentence and paragraph within which a word or phrase is found) and synthesis (comparing it with other parts of Scripture for a fuller meaning). Context is crucial to biblical exegesis in that it is one of its most important fundamentals. After we account for the literal, historical, and grammatical nature of a passage, we must then focus on the outline and structure of the book, then the chapter, then the paragraph. All of these things refer to "context." To illustrate, it is like looking at Google Maps and zooming in  on one house.

Taking phrases and verses out of context always leads to misunderstanding. For instance, taking the phrase "God is love" (1 John 4:7-16) out of its context, we might come away thinking that our God loves everything and everyone at all times with a gushing, romantic love. But in its literal and grammatical context, “love” here refers to agape love, the essence of which is sacrifice for the benefit of another, not a sentimental, romantic love. The historical context is also crucial, because John was addressing believers in the first century church and instructing them not on God’s love per se, but on how to identify true believers from false professors. True love—the sacrificial, beneficial kind—is the mark of the true believer (v. 7), those who do not love do not belong to God (v. 8), God loved us before we loved Him (vv. 9-10), and all of this is why we should love one another and thereby prove that we are His (v. 11-12).

Furthermore, considering the phrase "God is love" in the context of all of Scripture (synthesis) will keep us from coming to the false, and all-too-common, conclusion that God is only love or that His love is greater than all His other attributes, which is simply not the case. We know from many other passages that God is also holy and righteous, faithful and trustworthy, graceful and merciful, kind and compassionate, omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, and many, many other things. We also know from other passages that God not only loves, but He also hates.

The Bible is the Word of God, literally "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16), and we are commanded
 to ready, study, and understand it through the use of good Bible study methods and always with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to guide us (1 Corinthians 2:14). Our study is greatly enhanced by maintaining diligence in the use of context because it is quite easy come to wrong conclusions by taking phrases and verses out of context. It is not difficult to point out places that seemingly contradict other portions of Scripture, but if we carefully look at their context and use the entirety of Scripture as a reference, we can understand the meaning of a passage. “Context is king” means that the context often drives the meaning of a phrase. To ignore context is to put ourselves at a tremendous disadvantage