http://gentle.org/ Gentle Ministries en-us Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:37:02 GMT 1440 CPG-Nuke Dragonfly Gentle Ministries News http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/rss.html http://gentle.org/images/logo.jpg http://gentle.org/ http://gentle.org/News/article/sid=1163.html We have all read the parable of the good Samaritan and nod our heads, thinking that we would have helped that poor man, however, we rarely give credence to the parable because after all, it is just a parable. When was the last time you saw someone in need and walked away shaking your head?  You may have even thought, "I really wish I could have helped but there was nothing I could do."  Those words are nothing more than a way to sooth your guilty conscience.  Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:37:02 GMT http://gentle.org/News/article/sid=1162.html I’m not a musician. I’ve only ever been “booed” off stage once in my life.  Maybe twice after today.  Perhaps I should explain. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT http://gentle.org/News/article/sid=1161.html This is a follow-up and comment to The Big Dirt Nap What happens the split second after death? The way I see it, there are three options - four if you're Catholic Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:16:55 GMT http://gentle.org/News/article/sid=1160.html She was one of the innocent casualties of my split from God. In fact, she was the most innocent of all until I shattered her glorious naivety in 1982. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:14:37 GMT http://gentle.org/News/article/sid=1159.html MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- A 56-year-old Milwaukee man is accused of shooting his lawn mower because it wouldn't start. He told police: "I can do that, it's my lawn mower and my yard so I can shoot it if I want," however, if found guilty, he could face an eleven thousand dollar fine and spend six years and three months in prison. Perhaps him being drunk and using a sawed off shotgun upset the locals. We've all been there.  Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:25:17 GMT http://gentle.org/News/article/sid=1158.html Credible - cred·i·ble - adjective Worthy of belief or confidence; trustworthy: a credible witness. Often in this life, we will find two witnesses telling the same story, or almost the same story.  we will dismiss one and accept the other.   The reason is credibility. When one witness is given to sensationalism and extremes, it is completely normal to dismiss everything that person says.  We consider them unreliable even though periodically, they may be correct on an issue or two.   Likewise, when another person has proven themselves to be level-headed and factual, we tend to believe what they say even though periodically, they might be wrong.   The reason is credibility. It is unfortunate that this phenomenon is regularly found with those professing to be believers.   Whereas one person or group will draw others closer to the truth, another will drive them away even though they share almost the same truth.    The reason is credibility. To protect your reputation, don't associate with crazy people, whether they be saints or sinners.  Their testimony is unreliable.   All too often, when someone else presents the same message, people will associate the content with the incredible and unreliable witness and dismiss it as folly. An incredible witness brings harm to the Truth and the kingdom because their version of the truth is tainted by their wayward mind and the foolish company they keep. You can't see the light in their life due to the glaring reflection from the tinfoil they are wearing. I will give two examples of different people presenting information on the same topic.    One, you will dismiss as bizarre and the other may cause you to consider their message.   The reason is credibility. The subject matter is UFOs. See? You have proved my point!  You are already dismissing the topic because you have heard so much from unreliable witnesses who live in trailer parks, marry their cousin and wear tinfoil hats.   So have I. We must learn to analyze the message and glean bits of truth, if present, no matter what or who is the source and we must learn to dismiss the untruth, no matter what or who is the source.  Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.Humor me on this and watch a couple of videos. Note: This exercise will take a bit of your time, so get settled in and go to the next page when you are ready to begin. When you are done watching the videos, leave a comment.   Let me know who you think is credible or otherwise and why.    Additionally, give your thoughts on the validity of the message. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:33:59 GMT http://gentle.org/News/article/sid=1157.html I’ve always had a problem with Easter. Not as a festival and not because of what it represents – quite the reverse. I see the nails, the stripped flesh, the pain, the tears. I see Holy Week as a physical thing – primarily, the total destruction of the body of Jesus Christ. I wish I could see it symbolically. It would be so much easier to bear. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:09:12 GMT http://gentle.org/News/article/sid=1156.html The Columbus Dispatch this week posted a news article that has many Christians riled, but have they considered all of the facts? Creationism dispute Science teacher's hearing to be Aug. 26 Tuesday,  July 8, 2008 3:14 AM By Alayna DeMartini THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH MOUNT VERNON, Ohio -- The Mount Vernon eighth-grade science teacher who has been under scrutiny for focusing on creationism and intelligent design in his classes will contest his planned firing at an Aug. 26 hearing. The date was announced last night during a school board meeting in which several supporters for John Freshwater publicly chastised the school board for its plans to fire him. Darcy Miller, whose son was taught by Freshwater, derided school administrators for singling out Freshwater when she said other teachers freely offer their opinions in the classroom. "They (the administration) dug up any dirt they could that would put John Freshwater in the light of being a zealot shoving Christianity down the throats of his students," Miller said. So far, it sounds like something that should alarm Christians everywhere, correct?  Before you comment or react, consider the rest of the story. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:53:40 GMT http://gentle.org/News/article/sid=1155.html Terry Vik quotes the entire book of James in a new and dramatic way. This doesn't even sound like scripture! The entire DVD is available at www.terryvik.com. Contact Terry Vik to have this presentation brought to your church live! Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:23:49 GMT http://gentle.org/News/article/sid=1154.html Death is the end of life of a biological organism, or so says Wikipedia. But is death more than that? I think so. For thousands of years, people have wondered what happens to a person the split second after he or she dies and I often wonder the same thing for personal reasons. For some, this message may create more questions than answers, so if you are looking for a clear answers, they might not be here. Then again, after reading this, you might rule out certain things you’ve been taught, so in that respect, this message may bring you closer to the truth. I mean no disrespect for anyone’s beliefs. I’m just putting my mind on paper, so to speak. I know the scripture that says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I know the one that says it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this is the judgment, but things get begin to get fuzzy when I read in the twentieth chapter of Revelation where it says all those in hell will be cast into the lake of fire. There is some place worse than hell? The next two chapters describe a new heaven and a new earth. Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:00:00 GMT