Dear Subscribers,
This week, we are launching our Remote Assistance Program (RAP)! You can now do community service hours or simply volunteer from anywhere in the world. We have designed a work-from-home program where you can earn the hours you need in the comfort of your own home. Please reply via email or call us at 1-877-850-3878 if you're interested.
Did you know that skeptics are trying to undermine the facts around Jesus Christ's virgin birth? See the section below called Apologetics (The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained) for their attack and our rebuttal.
Welcome to the new readers of this message! Here is your Devotion, some Cool Facts, A Moment of Introspection, JCSM's Challenge, the Word of the Week, a faith-builder from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained," and the Quotes of the Week. Have a fantastic week and God bless you!
Love in Christ,
Jason Gastrich, Ph.D.
Contact Us: http://jcsm.org/contact.php
JCSM's Weekly Devotions (click here to listen!)
Psalm 54:4 "Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is with those who uphold my life."
Psalm 100:1-3 "Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture."
John 14:16-18 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way."
Insight: Everyone needs to serve the Lord and help others. Lead by example and encourage others to help and serve. There are great blessings in servanthood and there is a lot of work to be done.
Prayer: "Dear Lord, help us to be servant leaders. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and worship You. Thank you for revealing yourself to us in the Bible. Let more people serve You. Remind us of the therapeutic value of obeying You and doing your will. In Jesus' name, Amen."
On March 8, 1618, astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) discovered that the planets orbit the sun with elliptical paths. This conclusion involved years of observations and analyzing data, long before computers or calculators were available. Kepler also found the "Harmonic Law" that describes how planet orbit times lengthen with their increasing distance from the sun. His testimony of discovery is recorded in a statement made on this special day: "God has passed before me in the grandeur of His ways."
This excerpt was taken from Donald DeYoung's book called, "365 Fascinating Facts From the World of Discovery."
Some people have the spiritual gift of helping and it comes quite naturally for them, but others have to try a little harder to help in joyful obedience to God.
Take time to help someone. Your act of helping can be small or large. However, try to go the extra mile and help someone you usually ignore.
God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!
antilapesis (Greek, see 1 Corinthians 12:28): relief: help
The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained
"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible" claims:
Matthew 1:23 - The prophecy given in Is.7:14 referred not to a virgin but to a young woman, living at the time of the prophecy. And Jesus, of course, was called Jesus -- and is not called Emmanuel in any verse in the New Testament.
"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained" responds:
The KJV, NKJV, ASV, TLB, and NIV translate the Hebrew word "almah" into the English word "virgin." "Virgin" is clearly one of the definitions of the word "almah" and it is most appropriate for this passage of scripture.
The Hebrew word "Emmanuel" means "God with us." Jesus was God's Son and the second person of the triune God (the trinity). He was one with God and sinless like God. Therefore, it was right to call Him "Emmanuel." Simply because the New Testament doesn't record people calling Jesus "Emmanuel," this doesn't mean that "Emmanuel" was an inappropriate or unused title for Him.
In Matthew 1:23, this Hebrew word for "name," in the phrase, "His name will be called Emmanuel," also means "character" and "authority."
(This explanation came from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained", by Dr. Jason Gastrich. This book is on CD and gives over 4,000 answers to alleged Bible errors, regarding the entire Bible at http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.org. There is also a 300 question workbook that accompanies the CD-ROM.)
There are no new quotes this week. However, if you like to read wise quotes, you can either visit our Quotations Archive or get a copy of Dr. Gastrich's book called, "10,000 Wise Quotes and Spiritual Sayings"! It's the largest collection of Bible-based quotations in the world.
P.O. Box 9297
San Diego, CA 92169
Jason Gastrich, Ph.D.
Executive Director
______________________________________________________
JCSM is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization. Copyright © 1997-present.