Adultery< Internet Addiction <As Many As 5 Percent to 10 Percent of Americans 15

Adultery<“Internet Addiction”<As many as 5 percent to 10 percent of Americans—15 to 30 million people—may be addicted to the Internet, according to Kimberly Young, clinical director of the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery and author of the book “Caught in the Net.” The main kinds of Internet addiction are cybersex, online affairs, gambling, gaming, compulsive surfing, and even eBay addiction. Though some suffering from Internet addiction spend 14 to 18 hours a day online, Internet addiction is not only a matter of time. It’s a matter of what people are doing online, and how that is affecting the quality of their life, relationships, and work. < Resource: Manuel Baigorri, “Internet addiction may be one click away,” Medill Reports Washington, news.medill.northwestern.edu (7-29-08)<Index: adultery, attention, bondage, computers, family, focus, freedom, gambling, Internet, priorities, self-control, sex, technology, work

Adultery<“Adultery and Divorce”<The British newspaper The Guardian reported that the number one reason cited for divorce in the UK in 2006 was adultery. It was the fourth year in a row that adultery came in at number one. Thirty-two percent of divorces in the UK were attributed to extramarital affairs in 2006. The article said that “suspicion of adultery was even more prevalent than the practice of it”: in almost half (49%) of the divorces in Britain last year one spouse hired a private detective to check on the other.< Reference: “Private investigators hired in half of all divorces in Britain,” April 23, 2007, divorce, faithfulness, family, holiness, lust, marriage, purity, righteousness, sex, suspicion, Ten Commandments, trust, values<

Aging<“What’s the Name of that Flower?”<Two retired men were talking one day in the kitchen, while their wives visited out in the living room. One of the men said, “My wife and I went to a wonderful French restaurant last night.” “Oh?” his friend answered. “What was the name?” The first gentleman thought for a moment, then said, “What’s the name of that flower, the one with thorns?” “Rose?” his friend said. “That’s it,” the older gentlemen said. Then he turned and called into the living room, “Rose dear. What was the name of that restaurant we went to last night?”<Ref< Index: forgetfulness, marriage, memory, names, old age, senior citizens<

Angels<“Undercover Cops”<The book Where Angels Walk tells the story of two undercover cops, Steve and Phil, of Nutley, New Jersey. While were working to stem the drug trade in their area, they discovered a cave in the woods where drugs being stored. They wanted to catch the leader and the others involved, so they waited until evening. Finally, the leader and about a dozen others were in the cave. Steve and Phil called for backup, but the request was denied. So they called for another kind of backup. It was Steve and Phil’s habit to pray or read the Bible together before their shift each day. Now, before approaching the cave, they prayed together again for God’s help. They approached the cave and Steve shouted, “Freeze!”—and to his surprise, everyone did. No one moved, and when Phil asked the leader to hand over the package he was holding, he meekly obeyed. When they told everyone to lie prone, they did—with no back talk. They read them their rights, gathered evidence, and waited for the police van from headquarters. As they were walking the leader to the patrol car, Steve asked him, “Why did the arrests go so easily?” After all, it was a dozen criminals vs. the two cops. The leader said, “Do you think I’m crazy? I saw at least twenty guys in blue uniforms.” The leader said to another prisoner, “Belinda, how many cops did you see come into the cave?”“At least twenty-five,” she said. Steve recalled the words of Psalm 91:11: For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;<Reference: William J. Petersen and Randy Petersen, 100 Amazing Answers to Prayer, (Revell, 2003), pp. 171-173<Index: agreement prayer, Bible, God’s power, partnership, power, prayer, promises, protection, spiritual warfare, united prayer, unity

Anger

“Costly Victory”< A younger employee at a construction company worked with a hard-working foreman for a number of years. He couldn’t help but notice that this foreman was always passed over for promotions. One day he asked the foreman why. “You’re one of the best workers here,” he said. The foreman explained, “Years ago I had an argument with the supervisor … and I won.” Proverbs 29:11: A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.<Ref<Index: consequences, employment, humility, pride, relationships, retaliation, revenge, self-control, sowing and reaping, temper, words, work<

Anger

“Heart Attacks”<In 2000 an article in Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association, reported the results of a study held at the University of North Carolina (at Chapel Hill). The study found that highly anger-prone people are nearly three times more likely to have a heart attack. The connection between anger and heart attacks remained even after taking into account other major risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity. Epidemiologist Janice Williams said, “The implications … are that anger could potentially lead to heart attacks, especially among middle-aged men and women with normal blood pressure.” The study supported previous research showing that stress hormones constrict blood vessels and may trigger an artery blockage. <Reference: Arizona Republic, 5/2/00

Index: emotions, health, peace, relaxation, self-control, sowing and reaping, stress, temper<

Bible<“Arctic Seed Vault”<Norway has opened a “doomsday” seed vault in the Arctic. The vault, dug deep in the permafrost of a remote mountain, is located in Svalbard, an archipelago 620 miles from the North Pole. The purpose of the frozen vault is to protect samples of the world’s seeds from global disasters, natural or manmade. It can store up to 4.5 million seed samples. It’s a backup to the world’s other 1,400 seed banks.

The world has the wisdom to guard natural seeds, knowing that life springs from them. In the same way, we should guard the spiritual seed of the Word of God, for it is the source of spiritual life. “The farmer sows the word” (Mark 4:14). < Reference: Associated Press, “Arctic vault to save world’s seeds,” The Arizona Republic (2-26-08)< Index: church attendance, discipleship, end times, focus, life, ministry, natural disasters, priorities, spiritual growth, seeds, study, witnessing, Word of God<

Bible<“Ask an Expert”<Some years ago, a man was riding along in his Ford when the thing broke down. He looked at the engine, but couldn’t see what was wrong. He flagged down another car—a big Lincoln—and asked for help.

Out of the Lincoln stepped a tall man who asked what the problem was.

“I can’t get this Ford to move,” the stranded motorist said.

The tall stranger looked under the hood, made some adjustments, and then said, “Start the car.” The man gave it a try, and it started!

He thanked the tall man, and said, “What’s your name, sir?”

The tall man replied, “My name is Henry Ford.”

Henry Ford knew how to fix that Ford because he made it! God knows how to fix us because He made us. Go to the “Owner’s Manual,” the Bible, for wisdom for your life.<Ref<Index: advice, counsel, faith, God’s wisdom, prayer, providence, wisdom<

Bible< “The Bible in the Early Church”<Justin Martyr, writing in the middle of the second century, provides the earliest extra-Biblical description of an early Christian worship service. Notice the central place both the Old and New Testament Scriptures held:

“On the day called the Day of the Sun all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles [what we call the New Testament] or the writings of the prophets [what we call the Old Testament] are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray.”

Reference: Bruce L. Shelley, Church History in Plain Language (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995), p. 61< Index: church, leadership, prayer, preaching, priorities, teaching, tradition, unity, worship<

Bible< “The Caiaphas Ossuary”<One of the many archeological finds supporting the accuracy of the Biblical record was the discovery of the “Caiaphas Ossuary.”

Ossuary is a fancy name for a bone box, where the bones of dead people were kept. In 1990, such a box was found in Jerusalem’s Peace Forest. It had two inscriptions on it: “Caiaphas” and “Joseph, son of Caiaphas.” Archeologists believe it is the ossuary of the Caiaphas who was the high priest who tried Jesus. Whereas the Bible only refers to Caiaphas by that name, the first century Jewish historian Josephus refers to him as, “Joseph, who is called Caiaphas of the high priesthood”—the name on the discovered bone box. <Reference: Walter C. Kaiser Jr., “How Has Archaeology Corroborated the Bible?” The Apologetics Study Bible (Holman Bible Publishers, 2007), p. 1149<Index: archeology, burial customs, Caiaphas, Christianity, crucifixion, death, evidence, faith, high priest, history, Josephus, ossuary, trial of Jesus<

Bible< “Divine Protection”< In 1999 Guideposts magazine told the story of Mavis Gustafson Pigford, who stopped by the Gideons table at the Iowa State Fair. A young man there picked up one of the display Bibles and said, “I’m not supposed to give these away, but I sense you should have one.” Mavis shrugged and took it.

A few days later when she was walking to town, a driver pulled up beside her, pointed a gun at her, and began to assault her. As she resisted, he shot her in the side, and she fell to the ground. Then he picked up her purse, took out her wallet, threw the purse on her head, and shot it.

“I felt a dreadful impact,” Mavis said. “Still conscious, I lay silent, hoping he would think I was dead. I heard the car drive away, and I stumbled to a nearby farmhouse.”

At the hospital, before she went into surgery to remove the bullet in her side, her sister came to her. “Do you know what saved you, Mavis?” she asked. Then she handed Mavis the Bible she’d put in her purse.

“A bullet was lodged in it, its tip stopping exactly at Psalm 37:14-15: ‘The wicked draw the sword, and bend the bow … to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.’”< Reference: The Best of Guideposts (Ideals Publications, 2005), pp. 256-257< Index: Bible, Divine appointment, Divine protection, protection, providence, Word of God<

Bible< “Eating to Win”<Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps, winner of the most gold medals in Olympic history, has a champion-sized diet as well. He consumes 12,000 calories a day, compared to 2000 a day for the average 23-year-old man.

His breakfast consists of three fried-egg sandwiches loaded with cheese, a five-egg omelet, grits, three slices of French toast, and three chocolate-chip pancakes, washed down with two cups of coffee. Lunch is a pound of pasta, two large ham and cheese sandwiches, and energy drinks. Dinner is another pound of pasta and a whole pizza, and another 1,000 calories of energy drinks.

In spite of this rich diet, Phelps is in top condition. All of this food is fuel for his five-hours-a-day, six-days-a-week exercise regimen. His diet gives him the energy he needs to train and compete.

As Christians, we are in the competition of our lives every day as we “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1). Our spirits will require a healthy diet of God’s Word if we want to run victoriously.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4).< Reference: Clemente Lisi, “Phelps’ Pig Secret: He’s Boy Gorge,” NYPost.com (8-13-08).< Index: Christianity, devotions, diet, discipline, food, God’s Word, habits, Olympics, Michael Phelps, power, spiritual disciplines, spiritual food, spirituality, spiritual strength, spiritual warfare<

Bible< “The Most Important Event of the Past 1000 Years”<Life magazine published a book listing the most important events of the last 1000 years.

Some of the events you might expect to be there: #2, Columbus’s voyage to the New World in 1492; #16, the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan to end World War II and open the nuclear era; #17, Ford’s Model T; #20, the invention of the telephone; #27, the Wright brothers’ flight at Kitty Hawk.

Some events you’re glad are there: #93, the invention of painless surgery. A Georgia doctor was the first to use ether in a surgical procedure in 1842, when he removed a tumor from a patient—for a fee of $2

Some of the events listed are kind of surprising: #82, the invention of Coke in 1886; #99, the coming of Rock ‘n’ Roll; #39, the introduction of the potato to Europe.

But the #1 most important event of the last millennium, according to Life? The printing of the Bible on Gutenberg’s printing press in 1455! This led to the Bible, and other books, being distributed to the public at large for the first time. All of which led, eventually, to the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the subsequent political and industrial revolutions.

Life got it right: the Bible has been the key to the advance of civilization. It is also the key to our personal spiritual advancement.<Reference: The Life Millennium: The 100 Most Important Events & People of the Past 1,000 Years (Life Books, 1998)<Index: civilization, God’s sovereignty, history, progress, spiritual growth<

Bible< “The Search for Extraterrestrials”<The world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope is located at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. It is 1000 feet in diameter, 167 feet deep, and covers an area of about twenty acre.

Do you know what the world’s largest radio telescope is used for (among other things)? To listen for space aliens. Since 1999, it has been used by the UC Berkeley SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) Program to search for radio signals from extraterrestrial civilizations.

People are searching for a word from beyond this world. We have it for them in the Bible.< Reference: naic.edu/public/descrip_eng.htm; “SERENDIP,” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, wikipedia.org (last modified on 26 June 2008)< Index: aliens, church, creation, extraterrestrials, God, Gospel, ministry, preaching, relationship with God, space, witness, Word of God<

Bible< “Translated Bible Changes Tribe”<A Wycliffe Bible translator, working in a remote village in Papua New Guinea, translated the opening chapters of Genesis into their native language. When he did, the attitude toward women in that tribe changed overnight. They had not realized that the woman had been specially made from the man’s side. When they heard it, they immediately grasped the idea of equality between the sexes, and the lives of the women in that village were changed.

God’s Word changes lives.<Ref<Index: changed lives, Christianity, conviction, equality, the Gospel, marriage, missions, revelation, sexes, witness, women<

Bible< “You Can Trust the Bible”<One proof that the Bible is God’s Word is its amazing unity. Though written over a span of about 1500 years, by about 40 different authors of different backgrounds and locations and languages, it has a unified message from beginning to end: man is a sinner who needs a Savior.

In Genesis, written about 1400 B.C., we see man’s first sin in the Garden & God’s immediately promise that one of Eve’s sons would come to crush the serpent’s head—Man is a sinner, a Savior is promised. In Isaiah, written about 700 years later, we read: We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all (53:6)—Man is a sinner, a Savior will take his sin. Romans, written another 700 or so years later, says: The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (6:23)—Man is a sinner, there’s a Savior.

One unified message throughout.

If you don’t think that’s impressive, imagine the conflicting messages you’d read in a book on astronomy or biology or philosophy—or anything—if it contained the opinions of different authors through 15 centuries.

Take the field of medicine, for example—according to an article in the Encyclopedia Britannica: