Nick Vujicic was born in Melbourne, Australia with the rare Tetra-amelia disorder: limbless, missing both arms at shoulder level, and having one small foot with two toes protruding from his left thigh.
His life was filled with difficulties and hardships. One was not being able to attend a mainstream school because of his physical disability, as the law of Australia required, even though he was not mentally impaired. During his schooling, the laws were changed, and Nick was one of the first disabled students to be migrated to a mainstream school. He learned to write using the two toes on his left "foot," and a special device that slid onto his big toe to grip. He also learned to use a computer and type using the "heel and toe" method, as well as learning to do basic things such as throwing a tennis ball, answering the phone, shaving and get a glass of water.
Being bullied at his school, Nick grew extremely depressed, and by the age of eight, started contemplating suicide. After begging God to grow arms and legs, Nick eventually began to realize that his accomplishments were inspirational to many, and began to thank God he was alive. A key turning point in his life was when his mother showed him a newspaper article about a man dealing with severe disability. This led him to realize he wasn't the only one with major struggles.
Nick graduated from college at the age of 21 with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning.
Nick Vujicic - Fully living for Jesus Christ (Part 1 of 4)
Nick Vujicic - Fully living for Jesus Christ (Part 2 of 4)
Nick Vujicic - Fully living for Jesus Christ (Part 3 of 4)
Nick Vujicic - Fully living for Jesus Christ (Part 4 of 4)
Showing posts with label Voice of the Martyrs. YouTube video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Voice of the Martyrs. YouTube video. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Twisting Scripture
It's not only cults that take verses from the Bible and twist them, or take them out of context, to try to prove their false doctrine, but some Christians do this as well---especially many televangelists and some popular Christian book authors.
Some televangelists, and even Pastors, are fond of doing "word studies." Now, Lexicons (i.e., a Greek Lexicon) are great for Bible study when used properly (note: the 'lexicon' of a language is its vocabulary, including its words and expressions). But to the uneducated, they can quickly make some word or passage in the Bible say nearly anything you want, if you don’t use the proper procedures. Often, a televangelist or preacher will have a point to make, so, using a Lexicon, they look at every possible or conceivable angle, until they find something close, and then they twist it around to make their point. Using a Lexicon like that is very dangerous and completely irresponsible. Context is the key. Taking verses out of context, and comparing them to other verses out of context, is not only how cults and some Christians find their so-called 'proof texts' for their false doctrines, but it's also the method some non-Christians, seeking to discredit the Bible, use to try to show that the Bible contradicts itself. In addition, people will sometimes quote a Bible verse out of context in order to justify their argument. In such a case, when the verse is checked in context, you will find it does not support their claim. Such "reading into the text" (i.e., trying to make the text mean something it was never meant to mean) is called eisegesis. Cults are masters at eisegesis, but it’s also a danger for Christians. Christians who support the Gap Theory, for example, are reading into the text things that the text never says.
While a particular passage may have many applications, it has only one meaning - the one the author (through inspiration of the Holy Spirit) intended. Hermeneutics is the science that teaches the principles and methods of interpreting the Word of God. Proper hermeneutics provide tools to help ensure that we are basing our interpretations on the truth as God has revealed it, while avoiding error to the greatest degree possible.
The Error of Taking Verses Out of Context
The Error of Selective Citing of Bible Verses
Some televangelists, and even Pastors, are fond of doing "word studies." Now, Lexicons (i.e., a Greek Lexicon) are great for Bible study when used properly (note: the 'lexicon' of a language is its vocabulary, including its words and expressions). But to the uneducated, they can quickly make some word or passage in the Bible say nearly anything you want, if you don’t use the proper procedures. Often, a televangelist or preacher will have a point to make, so, using a Lexicon, they look at every possible or conceivable angle, until they find something close, and then they twist it around to make their point. Using a Lexicon like that is very dangerous and completely irresponsible. Context is the key. Taking verses out of context, and comparing them to other verses out of context, is not only how cults and some Christians find their so-called 'proof texts' for their false doctrines, but it's also the method some non-Christians, seeking to discredit the Bible, use to try to show that the Bible contradicts itself. In addition, people will sometimes quote a Bible verse out of context in order to justify their argument. In such a case, when the verse is checked in context, you will find it does not support their claim. Such "reading into the text" (i.e., trying to make the text mean something it was never meant to mean) is called eisegesis. Cults are masters at eisegesis, but it’s also a danger for Christians. Christians who support the Gap Theory, for example, are reading into the text things that the text never says.
While a particular passage may have many applications, it has only one meaning - the one the author (through inspiration of the Holy Spirit) intended. Hermeneutics is the science that teaches the principles and methods of interpreting the Word of God. Proper hermeneutics provide tools to help ensure that we are basing our interpretations on the truth as God has revealed it, while avoiding error to the greatest degree possible.
The Error of Taking Verses Out of Context
The Error of Selective Citing of Bible Verses
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Rev. “Black Harry” Hoosier (or Hosier) 1750-1810
Harry Hoosier was born a slave in North Carolina, but toward the end of the American Revolution he obtained his freedom, converted to Methodism, and became a preacher. In 1781, he delivered a sermon in Virginia entitled “The Barren Fig Tree” – the first recorded Methodist sermon by an African American. Despite the fact that Hoosier was illiterate, he became famous as a traveling evangelist and was considered one of the most popular preachers of his era. In fact, after hearing Harry preach in and around Philadelphia, Dr. Benjamin Rush (1745-1813), a signer of the Declaration of Independence and an evangelical Christian, declared that accounting for his illiteracy, Hoosier was “the greatest orator in America.”
Early in his ministry, Harry became a close associate of Bishop Francis Asbury (1745- 1816), the “Founding Father of the American Methodist Church.”
(In 1771, Asbury – an Englishman – heard an appeal from John Wesley for preachers to go to America to “spread the Word.” Asbury responded, and during the next four decades he preached almost 20,000 sermons and rode over a quarter of a million miles across America – on horseback! When Asbury first arrived, there were only 550 Methodists in America, but by the time of his death in 1816, there were 250,000 – and 700 ordained Methodist ministers. In 1924 when a statue of Bishop Asbury was erected in Washington, DC, President Calvin Coolidge declared of Asbury that “He is entitled to rank as one of the builders of our nation.”)
Hoosier and Bishop Asbury traveled and preached together, but Bishop Asbury (who drew huge crowds) remarked that Harry drew even larger crowds than he did! In fact, the Rev. Henry Boehm (1775-1875) reported: “Harry. . . . was so illiterate he could not read a word [but h]e would repeat the hymn as if reading it, and quote his text with great accuracy. His voice was musical, and his tongue as the pen of a ready writer. He was unboundedly popular, and many would rather hear him than the bishops.” Harry also traveled and preached with other popular bishops of that era, including the Rev. Richard Whatcoat (1736- 1806), the Rev. Freeborn Garretson (1752-1827), and the Rev. Thomas Coke (1747-1814). The Rev. Coke said of Asbury that, “I really believe he is one of the best preachers in the world. There is such an amazing power that attends his preaching . . . and he is one of the humblest creatures I ever saw.”
Hoosier ministered widely along the American frontier and is described by historians as “a renowned camp meeting exhorter, the most widely known black preacher of his time, and arguably the greatest circuit rider of his day.” However, he was unpopular in the South for two reasons: first, frontier Methodists such as Hoosier tended to lean Arminian in their theology, contrasted with the denominations of the South that were largely Calvinistic (e.g., Presbyterians, Reformed, Episcopalians, Baptists, etc. – yes, the Baptists of that day were largely Calvinistic!); second, Methodists were outspoken against slavery whereas the majority of the South supported slavery. Therefore, southern groups such as the Virginia Baptists came to use the term “Hoosiers” as an insulting term of derision that they applied to Methodists like Black Harry Hoosier, meaning that they were anti-slavery in belief and Arminian in theology.
Fisk University history professor William Piersen believes that this is the source of the term “Hoosier” that was applied to the inhabitants of Indiana. Piersen explains, “Such an etymology would offer Indiana a plausible and worthy first Hoosier – ‘Black Harry’ Hoosier – the greatest preacher of his day, a man who rejected slavery and stood up for morality and the common man.”
Noted African American historian Carter Woodson reported the words of early Methodist historian John Ledman in describing the closing chapter of Harry Hoosier’s life:
After he had moved on the tide of popularity for a number of years . . . he fell by wine – one of the strong enemies of both ministers and people. And now, alas! this popular preacher was a drunken ragpicker in the streets of Philadelphia. But we will not leave him here. One evening, Harry . . . determined to remain there until his backslidings were healed. Under a tree he wrestled with God in prayer. Sometime that night, God restored to him the joys of his salvation [Psalm 51:12]. . . . About the year 1810, Harry finished his course. . . . An unusually large number of people, both white and colored, followed his body to its last resting place, in a free burying ground in Kensington [near Philadelphia].
The Rev. Harry Hoosier was used by God to draw thousands of Americans to Christ during the early decades of the Second Great Awakening.
(from: WallBuilders.com)
K.P. Yohannan
Growing up in a small village in South India, Dr. K.P. Yohannan began his spiritual journey at the age of eight when he gave his life to Christ. His godly mother fasted and prayed each week for God to call one of her six boys to serve the Lord. Her prayers were answered when K.P., her youngest son, surrendered his ambitions to the Lord and committed to full-time service in North India.
After eight years of serving the Lord in the subcontinent, he went to the U.S. for his theological studies and pastored a church for four years. However, he was unable to forget the untold millions who have not heard about the love of Christ in the 10/40 window.
Finally, in 1979, obeying the Lord he resigned from his pastorate to give his full time to missions. From that small beginning, today Gospel for Asia has become an effective mission movement with several thousand workers in 11 Asia nations.
Dr. K.P. spends a significant part of his time traveling to many nations and speaking on the behalf the suffering and needy in our world. His call to the body of Christ is to become His authentic followers and impact their generation for Christ.
He has authored more than 200 books published in Asia and seven in the West, including Revolution in World Missions (ISBN 0-88419-195-8), The Road to Reality (ISBN 0-88419-250-4) and his newest book, Touching Godliness through Submission (ISBN 978-1-59589-055-9). Dr. K.P.'s weekly radio broadcast, "Road to Reality," is heard over 500 radio stations throughout the USA, Canada, U.K., N.Z. and Australia.
(from Gospel For Asia)
Gospel for Asia sermon by K.P. Yohannan Pt-1
Early in his ministry, Harry became a close associate of Bishop Francis Asbury (1745- 1816), the “Founding Father of the American Methodist Church.”
(In 1771, Asbury – an Englishman – heard an appeal from John Wesley for preachers to go to America to “spread the Word.” Asbury responded, and during the next four decades he preached almost 20,000 sermons and rode over a quarter of a million miles across America – on horseback! When Asbury first arrived, there were only 550 Methodists in America, but by the time of his death in 1816, there were 250,000 – and 700 ordained Methodist ministers. In 1924 when a statue of Bishop Asbury was erected in Washington, DC, President Calvin Coolidge declared of Asbury that “He is entitled to rank as one of the builders of our nation.”)
Hoosier and Bishop Asbury traveled and preached together, but Bishop Asbury (who drew huge crowds) remarked that Harry drew even larger crowds than he did! In fact, the Rev. Henry Boehm (1775-1875) reported: “Harry. . . . was so illiterate he could not read a word [but h]e would repeat the hymn as if reading it, and quote his text with great accuracy. His voice was musical, and his tongue as the pen of a ready writer. He was unboundedly popular, and many would rather hear him than the bishops.” Harry also traveled and preached with other popular bishops of that era, including the Rev. Richard Whatcoat (1736- 1806), the Rev. Freeborn Garretson (1752-1827), and the Rev. Thomas Coke (1747-1814). The Rev. Coke said of Asbury that, “I really believe he is one of the best preachers in the world. There is such an amazing power that attends his preaching . . . and he is one of the humblest creatures I ever saw.”
Hoosier ministered widely along the American frontier and is described by historians as “a renowned camp meeting exhorter, the most widely known black preacher of his time, and arguably the greatest circuit rider of his day.” However, he was unpopular in the South for two reasons: first, frontier Methodists such as Hoosier tended to lean Arminian in their theology, contrasted with the denominations of the South that were largely Calvinistic (e.g., Presbyterians, Reformed, Episcopalians, Baptists, etc. – yes, the Baptists of that day were largely Calvinistic!); second, Methodists were outspoken against slavery whereas the majority of the South supported slavery. Therefore, southern groups such as the Virginia Baptists came to use the term “Hoosiers” as an insulting term of derision that they applied to Methodists like Black Harry Hoosier, meaning that they were anti-slavery in belief and Arminian in theology.
Fisk University history professor William Piersen believes that this is the source of the term “Hoosier” that was applied to the inhabitants of Indiana. Piersen explains, “Such an etymology would offer Indiana a plausible and worthy first Hoosier – ‘Black Harry’ Hoosier – the greatest preacher of his day, a man who rejected slavery and stood up for morality and the common man.”
Noted African American historian Carter Woodson reported the words of early Methodist historian John Ledman in describing the closing chapter of Harry Hoosier’s life:
After he had moved on the tide of popularity for a number of years . . . he fell by wine – one of the strong enemies of both ministers and people. And now, alas! this popular preacher was a drunken ragpicker in the streets of Philadelphia. But we will not leave him here. One evening, Harry . . . determined to remain there until his backslidings were healed. Under a tree he wrestled with God in prayer. Sometime that night, God restored to him the joys of his salvation [Psalm 51:12]. . . . About the year 1810, Harry finished his course. . . . An unusually large number of people, both white and colored, followed his body to its last resting place, in a free burying ground in Kensington [near Philadelphia].
The Rev. Harry Hoosier was used by God to draw thousands of Americans to Christ during the early decades of the Second Great Awakening.
(from: WallBuilders.com)
K.P. Yohannan
Growing up in a small village in South India, Dr. K.P. Yohannan began his spiritual journey at the age of eight when he gave his life to Christ. His godly mother fasted and prayed each week for God to call one of her six boys to serve the Lord. Her prayers were answered when K.P., her youngest son, surrendered his ambitions to the Lord and committed to full-time service in North India.
After eight years of serving the Lord in the subcontinent, he went to the U.S. for his theological studies and pastored a church for four years. However, he was unable to forget the untold millions who have not heard about the love of Christ in the 10/40 window.
Finally, in 1979, obeying the Lord he resigned from his pastorate to give his full time to missions. From that small beginning, today Gospel for Asia has become an effective mission movement with several thousand workers in 11 Asia nations.
Dr. K.P. spends a significant part of his time traveling to many nations and speaking on the behalf the suffering and needy in our world. His call to the body of Christ is to become His authentic followers and impact their generation for Christ.
He has authored more than 200 books published in Asia and seven in the West, including Revolution in World Missions (ISBN 0-88419-195-8), The Road to Reality (ISBN 0-88419-250-4) and his newest book, Touching Godliness through Submission (ISBN 978-1-59589-055-9). Dr. K.P.'s weekly radio broadcast, "Road to Reality," is heard over 500 radio stations throughout the USA, Canada, U.K., N.Z. and Australia.
(from Gospel For Asia)
Gospel for Asia sermon by K.P. Yohannan Pt-1
Monday, January 26, 2009
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